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Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film

Pohlman, Laura E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1459781168

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Film (Fine Arts).
The purpose of this thesis is to elucidate the fluid conception of fat women within contemporary American culture from the early 1970s to the present. Due to their non-normative embodiment, fat women typically face denigration and marginalization. Most mainstream film narratives reify the negative social positioning of fat women, often through assimilationist characters that resign themselves to fatphobia or otherwise compensate for their fatness. On the flipside, carnival and camp narratives foster liberatory fat characterization, as exemplified by the figure of “the unruly woman.” In his portrayal of both assimilationist and liberationist women, Divine functions as a barometer for subsequent fat characterization. Overall, this thesis critiques fat assimilation, argues for the importance of fat liberation, and projects a future where fat acceptance becomes the norm.
Ofer Eliaz (Committee Chair)
Louis-Georges Schwartz (Committee Member)
Kimberly Little (Committee Member)
80 p.
American Studies; Film Studies; Gender Studies
fatness; fat representation; fat studies; Divine; carnival; fat liberation; Kathleen LeBesco; Mikhail Bakhtin; fat suits; fatphobia; fat activism; Melissa McCarthy; Rebel Wilson; body image; film; film studies; diet culture; gender; body positivity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pohlman, L. E. (2016). Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1459781168

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pohlman, Laura. Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film . 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1459781168.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pohlman, Laura. "Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film ." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1459781168

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1459781168
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.