Prelims

Half Title Page

Gender and the Male Character in 21st Century Fairy Tale Narratives

Series Title Page

Emerald Studies in Popular Culture and Gender

Series Editor: Samantha Holland, Leeds Beckett University, UK

As we re-imagine and reboot at an ever faster pace, this series explores the different strands of contemporary culture and gender. Looking across cinema, television, graphic novels, fashion studies and reality TV, the series asks: what has changed for gender? And, perhaps more seriously, what has not? Have representations of genders changed? How much does the concept of ‘gender’ in popular culture define and limit us?

We not only consume cultural texts but share them more than ever before; meanings and messages reach more people and perpetuate more understandings (and misunderstandings) than at any time in history. This new series interrogates whether feminism has challenged or changed misogynist attitudes in popular culture.

Emerald Studies in Popular Culture and Gender provides a focus for writers and researchers interested in sociological and cultural research that expands our understanding of the ontological status of gender, popular culture and related discourses, objects and practices.

Title Page

Gender and the Male Character in 21st Century Fairy Tale Narratives: From Enchanted Heroes to Modern Masculinities

Edited by

Natalie Le Clue

Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL

First edition 2024

Editorial matter and selection © 2024 Natalie Le Clue.

Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83753-789-1 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-788-4 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83753-790-7 (Epub)

About the Editor

Dr Natalie Le Clue is a Postdoctoral Fellow who is presently affiliated with the Department of Media and Communication at Nelson Mandela University located in Gqeberha, South Africa. She specialises in fan studies research that specifically delves into toxic fan practices and their effects within fan communities and media environments. Her research interest further extends to fairy-tale mythology. Notably, Dr Le Clue has co-edited a book titled Gender and Female Villains in 21st Century Fairy Tale Narratives: From Evil Queens to Wicked Witches.

About the Contributors

Thanong Aupitak is a PhD candidate at the University of Hamburg in Germany, specialising in American studies. Under the supervision of Prof Dr Susanne Rohr, a distinguished German Americanist, he is conducting research for his doctoral dissertation which delves into queerness and witches within American popular culture. The objective is to introduce a narratological framework tailored to study a specific category of witches as queer, including an analysis of their narratological compositions and generational developments. His research interests span across gender studies, queer studies, folktale/folklore studies, comic studies, popular culture and soon, fandom studies.

Ailish Kate Brassil has a Master's in Children's/Young Adult Literature. She is a PhD student – her research is on gothic themes in literature that is aimed at children, young adults and adults. As a contributor for The Nerd Daily, She has written various online articles on books, TV shows and films. Ailish presented her paper on the TV show, Derry Girls (2018–2022), at a virtual conference in New Zealand. She contributed a chapter to an academic edited collection based on The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017). Her research on Erin Brockovich (2000) was presented at the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association in Albuquerque. Ailish is passionate about literature, and films, particularly texts that have been adapted for on-screen viewing.

Justin Shay Easler is a PhD student in the Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design (RCID) programme at Clemson University, in the United States. Currently in his third year, Mr Easler enjoys writing on topics such as video games, game studies, virtual reality, literacy and composition. Justin Shay Easler has published, ‘Monst[her]-Making and Dina: Looking at the Creation of the Monstrous Feminine Through the Lens of Derrida's Différance’ in Itinera Magazine.

Brittany (Bee) Eldridge is an Instructor at Pennsylvania State University, York. They hold a PhD from University College London. Bee is the Head of Communication for the Disney, Culture and Society Research Network (DisNet) and their Blog Editor. Along with Disney, their research focuses on modern fairy tales, adaptations, gender, queer studies and archetypal studies. Her most recent work is ‘Forgive Me Mother for I have Sinned: Cinderella Meets Derrida’s Forgiveness’ (2020), and they have upcoming co-edited collections: The Nightmare Before Christmas (2025) and The Frozen Phenomenon.

Dr Jennifer Fogarty hails from the sunny pacific island of New Zealand. Having spent much of her formative years travelling, and she eventually settled in the United Kingdom and raised two boys. She initially set her sights on becoming a Graphic Designer, but in her third year of study was asked to take on a small teaching project. This has led to a 20-year career in higher education, becoming a programme leader and senior lecturer in visual communication and illustration. During this time, she also completed her PhD in ‘Defining Visual Masculine Identity in Fairy Tales’. Alongside teaching, Jenny has established herself as a cartoonist, illustrator and designer and a creator of specialist training in visual communication.

Marty Heath (they/them) is a PhD candidate in Communication at University of Illinois – Chicago, whose research explores narratives of gender, sexuality and (dis)ability, with a particular emphasis on the cultural meanings ascribed to bodies. Previous projects have explored representations of sexuality in historical fiction TV and the intersections of masculinity and disability in film, TV and fan fiction. Marty has presented their work to the Society for Cinematic and Media Studies, University of Oxford's Rothermere American Institute, and the Popular Culture Association among others, and regularly contributes to InMediaRes: A Media Commons Project.

Caleb George Hubbard is currently an Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University. He earned his PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Oklahoma and his MA and BS in Communication Studies from West Texas A&M University. Hubbard's research centres on the influence of popular culture. He studies how fans are impacted and interact with various fan objects (e.g. TV, celebrities, etc.), as well as how fans engage with other fans. Currently, Hubbard is teaching courses that centre on fan communication and social influence, and how pop culture impacts society.

Auba Llompart (PhD in English Literature, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2014) is currently an Associate Professor at the Translation, Interpreting and Applied Languages Department at Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya, where she teaches English language and culture. Her main research interests include Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, Gothic Studies and Gender Studies, on which she has published several articles and book chapters. She is also the co-editor of the volume Contemporary Fairy-Tale Magic: Subverting Gender and Genre (Brill, 2020).

Fiona McKay is a Lecturer in Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Fiona's research interests include gendered representations in the media, textual analysis and inequalities, media and political communication and journalistic practice. She has published articles on ‘period poverty’ movement in Scotland and the press treatment and the mediated representation of female leaders.

Brittney S. Morrissey is currently a Research Associate with Northern Arizona University's Institute for Human Development, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and a doctoral candidate within the University of Oklahoma's (OU) Department of Communication and Department of Women and Gender Studies. Her research centres on the experiences of individuals with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities in the scope of supportive family conversations, being different, difficult family conversations and navigating healthcare environments with an emphasis on the influence of gender and intersecting structures of power.

Dina Pedro is an Assistant Professor at the Department of English and German at the University of Valencia (Spain). Her research focuses on intersections of gender and trauma in neo-Victorianism and Gothic on screen, with an especial interest in the medical humanities. She is a member of the LAP research group at the University of Valencia (Ref.: GIUV 2017-354) and the research project ‘Re-orienting Assemblage Theory in Anglophone Literature and Culture’ (RELY), funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Ref. PID2022-137881NB-I00). She is also a member of the editorial board of the Spanish journal REDEN and events assistant at the PopMec association.

Kaitlyn Michelle Samons is a PhD candidate in the Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design (RCID) programme at Clemson University, in the United States. Currently in her fourth year, Ms Samons enjoys writing on topics such as intercultural communications and memes, video games and anime but also has experience on topics such as violence and spectacularity. Kaitlyn Samons has published, ‘Monst[her]-Making and Dina: Looking at the Creation of the Monstrous Feminine Through the Lens of Derrida's Différance’ in Itinera Magazine.

Cheeno Marlo M. Sayuno, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Communication, Research, and Children’s Literature from the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños. He received his BA Mass Communication degree from Cavite State University, MA Communication Arts degree from UP Los Baños, and PhD Communication degree from UP Diliman. For his accomplishments in research and creative work, he has been conferred the award of University Artist 1 under the UP Arts Productivity System Award. He has received recognition from the prestigious Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the Philippine Board on Books for Young People’s Salanga Prize (honorable mention), and the Normal Awards for Gender-Inclusive Literature by Philippine Normal University for his stories for children. He has published storybooks with Adarna House, Lampara Books, Anvil Publishing, Chikiting Books, and Save the Children Philippines, as well as various textbooks in communication, media, and related fields. Currently, Dr Sayuno also serves as the Secretary of the Philippine Association for Communication and Media Researchers, Inc.; the Treasurer of Supling Sining, Inc.; and an active member of the International Research Society for Children’s Literature.

Fiona Smith is Principal Lecturer in Media and Journalism at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, where she teaches critical and cultural theory and media semiotics. Her research interests include examining textual representations in the media, particularly the ways in which the media represents the past. Her most recent work explores the framing of the uncanny in paranormal reality television.

Tess Watterson, University of Adelaide, Australia. Tess is an early career researcher who specialises in medievalism and experiential learning. Tess recently completed their PhD thesis at the University of Adelaide on witchcraft, gender, and history in medievalist fantasy computer roleplay games. She has a chapter in Women in Historical and Archaeological Video Games (ed. Draycott, 2022). Tess's earlier work focused on medievalism and militainment in Robin Hood video games, including a Master’s of Research thesis completed at Macquarie University and published in recent articles in Adaptation and Rethinking History.

Maggie Webster is the Course Leader for the degrees BA (hons) Religion and BA (hons) Secondary Religious Education. She is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Religion at Edge Hull University, in the United Kingdom. Her interdisciplinary research is related to education studies, popular culture, social media, witchcraft, and witches. She has published three books related to the English primary curriculum and one book related to becoming a witch within social networking spaces. She can be found on X with the handle @maggiewebster (the digital witchdoctor).

Kirsty Worrow is a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University and Birmingham City University. She is a Programme Leader for Film Studies, Media Studies and Music at Shrewsbury Colleges Group, Shropshire, UK. She has been teaching Film Studies A-Level for 19 years and Media Studies for 12 years. She is a regular contributor to Media Magazine, published by the English and Media Centre. She currently works as a trainer, examiner and subject expert for Film Studies for OCR. She also publishes and presents on topics related to her research interests: horror, science-fiction, gender, celebrity and fan cultures. She is a co-host of the horror podcast And Now the Podcast Starts.

Acknowledgements

It is unequivocally clear to me that this collection would not be possible without each and every one of the wonderful authors and their outstanding contributions.

I extend my most heartfelt appreciation to the superlative team at Emerald Publishers.