Abstract
My current research focuses on representations of gender in contemporary literature and visual culture, with a particular emphasis on feminist criticism. Furthermore, I am interested in the ways in which ancient mythology, fairy tales, and folklore have shaped--and continue to shape--societal ideals about normative gender behavior. While some myth critics profess the benefits of framing one's life in terms of a grand narrative--an archetypal "hero's journey"--feminist critics and queer theorists argue that these sweeping narratives can be damaging to people of all genders by forcing them into limiting social scripts. Much of my recent research has explored the question of whether or not there can be such a thing as a "feminist hero's journey," a type of storytelling the reconciles the problematic epic/quest trajectory with more feminist values. In these images I am attempting to juxtapose several thematic tensions that emerge out of this work.
Recommended Citation
Bailey, Catherine
(2012)
"The Heroine's Journey,"
The Hilltop Review: Vol. 5:
Iss.
2, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/hilltopreview/vol5/iss2/8
Included in
Art and Design Commons, English Language and Literature Commons, Women's Studies Commons
