Gender Representation in the Film, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

Introduction
For this week's writing assignment, you will critically analyze the gender expression of one character in a film or television show of your choice. You may choose to construct your critical analysis as either an essay or a video presentation. Neither option is easier than the other, and both will be held to the same rigorous standards and high expectations for content, organization, writing/presentation style, MUGS (mechanics, usage, grammar and spelling), and the integration of academic sources.
Do not use the same media example you used in the week 1 discussion board.
Throughout your analysis, you must be very specific. Provide clear examples in the form of describing scenes, quoting the dialogue in the film, or playing a brief clip that demonstrates your point. For example, Do not simply tell me "Peeta sometimes displays feminine traits," and leave it at that. Give me specific examples of times when Peeta's behavior is more traditionally feminine.
Before You Begin
Watch this video to learn more about critical analysis:
Not sure how to analyze media?
Check out this critical film analysis video of Gender in Mulan (35 minutes long, but you don't need to watch more than 10)Links to an external site. for some context. Note: This is not as academically grounded as yours should be. This analysis tends to bring in more popular sources like The New York Times, whereas yours should be referencing the textbook, the articles that you have been assigned, and/or articles you have found.
Read this analysis, How Disney's "Mulan" Brazenly Challenges Gender and Sexuality,Links to an external site. to see how it is handled in writing. Note: This article doesn't use APA citations, but it does include links to its references. That's fine for an online article, but your paper must include correct APA style in-text citations and a reference page.
Constructing Your Analysis
For your analysis, there are elements that you must include and elements that you may include.
You must discuss the following:
Your chosen character's gender presentation.
Consider these questions: To what degree does your character conform to "traditional" gender roles and stereotypes? In what ways do they conform, and in what ways do they deviate from gendered expectations?
The impact of the character's gender presentation on their interactions with others in the film.
Consider these questions: Are there social consequences when they deviate from traditional expectations? How are they treated if/when they conform to expectations?
The degree to which the character's options are influenced by their sex or perceived gender.
Consider these questions: Are there instances where the character's biological status of male or female prevents them or causes others to attempt to prevent them from achieving something? (Consider Mulan in which she is told on multiple occasions that she cannot do something because she is a woman). Is the character able to overcome this and, if so, how?
Connect your character to the gendered expectations of the time (both the time period of the film/show's setting and the time period in which it was released).
Consider these questions: To what degree are the character's options for gender presentation/conformity influenced by the time period in which the film/show takes place? What about the period in which the film/show was produced? (i.e. Eloise in Bridgerton, Enola Holmes in Enola Holmes, Will Byers in Stranger Things)
You may discuss the following:
Costuming choices.
Consider these questions: How do the filmmakers use the character's clothing, hair, and makeup to send signals about their gender? Are there instances in which other characters seem to be reacting to your chosen character based on this? Do the costuming choices match the behavior/presentation?
Juxtaposing your chosen character with another in the same film/show.
Consider these questions: Is there another character of the same sex but with a very different presentation of gender? For example, if you chose a very traditionally feminine female character, is there a more traditionally masculine female character that you would like to compare her with?
Sexuality/Sexual Expression
This does not apply to all shows and films. However, consider: Is this character more or less likely to "get the girl" (or guy) based on their gender expression? Do their romantic/sexual advances conform to gender stereotypes or deviate from them? To what end?
Basic Requirements
Essay
3-5 pages long, not including the required cover and reference pages
Correctly cite and reference the textbook and media (film, TV show) to support all assertions (if you're telling me something is true, you need to be able to back that up with a citation).
Include additional citations as necessary (for example, a discussion on homophobia impacting reactions to non-stereotypical gender expression in the 1980s needs to have citations, and you are unlikely to find enough on that specific topic in the textbook to back up your assertions)
Clear descriptions of examples from the film/show that support your assertions
Excellent spelling and grammar, as is expected of all university-level writing
Clear organization, including an introduction, transitions between body paragraphs, and a conclusion that wraps up your paper