Who doesn’t love a wide range of entertainment? Much like a silver platter at our convenience, popular culture is an endless enigma on its own.
No matter if it’s a movie, a book, a TV series, or a music album, art surrounds us, and boy— do we not love its presence?!
…that was a rhetorical question, by the way.
Today, we are going to pick up our magnifying glasses and investigate the mystery behind pop culture.
Navigating through the treads of menacing male villains and goody-two-shoes characters — let us focus on the evermore glorious ships — forewarners of femme fatale, behold! Female protagonists!
Rise & Evolution of Female Protagonists
The waves of empowerment have never looked this good. Despite starting off their journey as patriarchy’s dream, aka ‘damsels in distress’ — female protagonists have surely come a long way.
There was a time when women were regarded as ‘valuable,’ owing only to their physical beauty. Their portrayal in popular culture was limited to being one of the ‘background’ aka secondary characters, or simply villainous figures in the story of a male ‘hero.’
But times changed, and for the better, at least!
So instead of seeing the female sex as an object, the crafters sought to make the identity of female protagonists known by something else — something more… ‘profound.’
And so, an era dawned where female protagonists were admired, not only for their charisma, but intellect.
Female Protagonists: How Are They Portrayed?
Quite wisely, renowned thinker Maya Angelou once said, “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot — it’s all there.”
Any sane person would agree with her!
Post 2010, movements like #MeToo changed the dynamics of how the widespread view of abuse victims has been replaced with care and empathy (instead of gaslighting). As a result of its ripple effect, we can be certain that the portrayal of female protagonists has evolved for the collective good of all.
Previously, it was common for pop culture to portray women in a negative light, which not only questioned their dignity but damaged their reputation. What men saw, read, or experienced directly affected their behavior toward women they were around.
Normalization of this abuse has driven artists to join hands and produce reflective works aiming to empower women.
Let’s look at various portrayals of female protagonists in pop culture from the lens of books, movies, and TV series.
● Portrayal in Books
Harbinger of feminist novels, Jane Austen, has produced a number of remarkable literary pieces that speak for themselves. Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility are novels that challenge the norms that glorify the original sex, defying the conventions of Victorian society, where women were supposed to dedicate their entire lives to the care of their family and the obedience of their husbands. On the other hand, we have the ever-talented Bronte sisters — works of whom are still calling the shots today.
However, many male writers also chose to defy patriarchal teachings and lifted their pens to paint a more real picture of women in society. These thinkers included Thomas Hardy, Henrik Ibsen, and Leo Tolstoy. What’s consistent in their work is that they tend to expose the hypocrisy of society towards women. For example, something as simple as taking a loan from the bank was considered ‘derogatory’ for the husband of Nora Helmer — though this wouldn’t be the case in present times.
What’s Up Lately in Books?
With multiple books published every year, we find bookstores stacked with millions of books. So, picking one that’s actually worth the read — is like finding a needle in a haystack.
But don’t you worry; we did the work for you!
What’s royal blooded without a cost to pay? ‘Tis nothing, we say!
Published earlier this year, V. C. Love’s “The Countess of Stonemason“ is guaranteed to captivate the best of your interests!
Andrea, the female protagonist in this book — is quite extraordinary. A society that expects women to obey, speak less, be gentle, and conform to senseless customs is a society Andrea refuses to be a part of. Choosing to defy the odds, this Countess dares to roam free-spirited in a world that intends to do nothing… but cage her.
Wisdom doesn’t come with age; it comes with being a rebel. And quite notoriously, noblewomen are expected to wear the matrimonial ring as they reach a ripe age.
But our Countess Andrea knows better.
No matter how dangerously close love gets to her, she chooses to run away from it..
And so, adventurous at heart, this female protagonist is an original traveler — leaving many-a-trails in France, Spain, and The New Spain.
Though 18th-century France was quite different for the monarchy, how about you pick up your favorite bookmark and indulge in the journey of one of the best female protagonists written to date?
With the story of The Countess of Stonemason, you are in for a treat!
● Portrayal in Movies and TV
Movies and TV series are packed with strong female protagonists, depicting an even better and more visualized version of a strong woman’s idea.
Though women were generally depicted as a love interest in movies or TV series, they now have a better platform. Animated movies that always drove with the ‘damsel in distress’ idea, waiting for a ‘true love’s kiss’ were made redundant when characters like Merida (from “Brave”) and Elsa (from “Frozen”) hit theaters over a decade ago.
Shifting to present times, you may have been fairly intrigued by the peculiarities of Wednesday Addams, released in early 2023, or El (aka Eleven) from the Duffer brothers’ hit Netflix series, “Stranger Things.”
As you may observe, it is the ‘strangeness’ and swimming against the current of waves that makes female protagonists so powerful — so known.
Everlasting Impact on Audience
What you consume is what you become.
The strong female protagonists that you read, see, or listen to are the women who shape you as a person. Not only do these portrayals offer you a better perspective, but they help you in identifying and overcoming patterns that threaten the integrity of women around you…even if it’s yourself!
Remember, self-love is the key. If you tend to tolerate harsh treatment just because it’s ‘normal’ for a woman to face such things — then it’s about time you learn better!
Refusal to conform to what society expects one to be — is the first step one can take in acquiring ‘true’ freedom.
Be a confident woman; be a confident you!
Speaking of which… grabbing your copy of V. C. Love’s “The Countess of Stonemason” might be the wisest thing you do today.
Order yours from Amazon now!
