How does the portrayal of Wonder Woman act as a symbol of female empowerment change from the original comic book character created by Charles Marston through to Gal Gadot’s 2017 portrayal in the film Wonder Woman directed by Patty Jenkins? Looking also at the 1970s television series starring Lynda Carter and the 2012 feature-length animation.

Abstract

This dissertation explores the character of Wonder Woman as a symbol of female empowerment through in-depth analysis of her as a comic book character in 1942 by Charles Moulton Marston through to the live action film Wonder Woman 2017 directed by Patty Jenkins. Looking also at other adaptations such as Lynda Carter’s on-screen portrayal focussing on the first season the television series (1975) and the feature-length animation created in 2009. This study recognises that in each portrayal, through the use of historical context, language and setting there is resonance of the prominent moments in history for women and the feminist movement. It is important to mention that this study should be seen as open-ended as the character and feminist issues should are ever changing.