BA (HONS) ENGLISH

Course: BA (Hons) English

Module Name: Popular Culture and Literature

Lecturer’s Name: MRS WEDSHA APPADOO-RAMSAMY

Learner’s Name: Akilesh Boolaky

Learner Id: 201906018

Cohort 13

Y2S2
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Content Table

Contents Page
Question 1 2
Question 2 3
Question 3 4
Question 4 5-7
References 8-
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Question 1

First and foremost, Language is a tool and resource that helps us to interact with each other, as
well as ourselves, in both oral and a written way. Without a doubt, the introduction of the internet
and the resulting array of social media networks has resulted in an unprecedented rise in new
forms of written language.

The appropriation of established words is one of the most notable ways that social media has
affected language. Words that previously had different meanings have now been given new
meanings in an online context, which then spills over to verbal communication. On social media
platforms written words no longer convey the same meaning which they previously had, they are
redefined and giving new meaning, it is as if written language is continuously evolving, new
words are constantly being created, some examples of words that never even existed years back
are; selfie, fleek or emoji. Some of these words have even made it to the well known oxford
dictionary, words such as “YOLO”, (you only live one) and terms like this have become a new
normal in verbal communication as well. Not to forget is that social media paved the way for the
introduction of emojis a new form of language which does not require the use to actual words to
express themselves

Social media has also influenced written language in such a way that it created a generational
gap. In a recent survey of 2,000 parents conducted by Samsung, 86 percent of respondents said
they believed teens and young people on social media spoke a different language. According to
the study, there is now a "seismic generational divide" in the use of modern informal language.
This leads us to understand that social media has in fact had an influence on written language.
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Question 2

Persuasion: The action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe

something. Persuasion requires the use of language. Politicians make speeches to convince
citizens to vote for them, and advertisers air commercials to persuade people to purchase their
goods and services.

Persuasive advertisement often aims to convey product facts, but does so in a way that paints the
product in a convincing, optimistic light while omitting any negative side effects. Persuasive
advertisement ignores these factors in favor of emphasizing knowledge that speaks directly to the
needs or desires of consumers.

Persuasive advertising often uses more trickery and flash than informative advertising. In
marketing campaigns, advertisers can use attractive or well-known individuals to encourage
consumers to associate positive emotions with products. Companies can also provide discounts
on initial sales to entice buyers to buy greater quantities of particular goods or to facilitate
purchases across a broader range of products. Informative advertising seldom uses these tactics,
often relying exclusively on the strength of product features to persuade customers to buy.

Moreover,Persuasion in advertising aims to persuade consumers that a company's services or

goods are the best, as well as to change attitudes and improve a company's or product's picture.
Its mission is to persuade customers to switch brands, try a new product, or stay loyal to an
existing brand.
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Question 3

The rise of blogs and wikis as networking and information resources has unquestionably altered
the way we live and communicate. Individuals use blogs to share their opinions, ideas, and
feelings about a particular topic.This mode of expression has resulted in a culture that is
articulate and descriptive.

In blogs, Since the writer is sharing his thoughts on an artist's work piece, the language is clear.
Since the blogger's goal is to share his thoughts and experiences with the reader, the written piece
is light on detail. He's using this method of communication to solicit feedback from other
readers. The language used on blogs is most of the time informal rather than formal, however
wiki pages are the complete opposite of blogs.

Wiki pages make use of formal language, Since the intent of wiki is to disseminate knowledge,
the language is filled with jargon and technical terms. The subject matter determines how the
wiki is organized or structured. Keywords are often provided to assist readers on wikis. Unlike
blogs wiki pages do not portray the personal views and thoughts of the writer and does not make
use of informal language.

The language used for both blogs and wikis indicates that there are different ways in which
individuals present the content when using a specific form of media.
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Question 4

On the surface, Wonder Woman appears to fulfill many of modern-day Americans' desires: more
female involvement behind the scenes, a strong leading female role, and a compelling plot. To
many, the film appears to be a truly groundbreaking feminist film. Given the film's huge success
and popularity, it's worth investigating further. To learn more about the messages Wonder
Woman is sending to her audience, we shall examine the film in a feminist point of view in order
to decipher how wonder women challenges the annihilation of women within the story.

Wonder Woman is regarded as a femininst movie as it is the first movie produced by DC Comics
starring a main female protagonist,whilst previous superhero movies have barely included
women outside of the realm of serving as a love interest for the leading male protagonist. The
first movie to challenge the male dominance in the world of fictional heroes in the DC universe.
Wonder Woman challenged the portrayal of women in media specially in superhero movies often
presented as fragile, vulnerable, submissive and exploitative. Wonder woman also challenged the
preset norms by a previously patriarchal society about the physical superiority of man, by
portraying the role of an equally strong character but of the opposite sex. Wonder woman also
exposed the myth that women cannot be super heroes, which for years have been mostly a male
dominated part of the film industry. This can be proven by the fact that the movie has been a
huge success, even more successful than the spider-man franchise.

Furthermore, No matter how powerful a heroine might be on TV or in film, the underlying myth
is that she still needs a man to save and defend her at crucial moments. A heroine, according to
feminist critics, in romance literature is only “superficially independent,” and she is indeed
“deeply dependent and incapable of action herself”, However as portrayed in the wonder woman
movie Diana is represented as independent from her male counter parts and her decision are not
based on male guidance. Through this she establishes herself as self dependent and autonomous.
However we also need to take into consideration that at some point Diana takes orders from a
male figure, this is a patriarchal figment. Hence wonder woman’s credibility about being
autonomous is questioned here.
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We also notice that Diana challenges the existing gender roles and norms which previously
portrayed men as being the more stronger sex both physically and mentally.
In terms of gender and superheroes, there are three important factors that define heroism:
risk-taking, concern for others, and voluntary motivation to act. Scholars have stated that male
heroes are expected to have risk-taking ability (Becker & Eagly, 2004; David & Brannon, 1976;
Levant & Kopecky, 1995; Thompson & Pleck, 1986), and female heroines are more engaged in
concern for others (Chodorow, 1978; Miller, 1976; Spence & Helmreich, 1978). However this
isn’t truly the case for Wonder woman as we can see she has both the risk taking ability but is
also engaged in concern for others hence clearly indicating disapproval of the existing norms.
Moreover, the presentation of wonder woman has defied the existing stereotypes rather than
reinforcing the preconceived ideas of gender and femininity.

Another important point to discuss, is (The Male Glaze), The act of representing the world and
women in the visual arts and literature from a masculine and heterosexual point of view,
portraying women as objects of male gratification, is known as the male gaze in feminist theory.
Just like another movie (The hunger games), wonder woman has also been successful in
challenging the male gaze. The film reimagines Hollywood's oppressive male gaze by focusing
on the female protagonist's strength and agency, legitimizing a female point of view, and
encouraging a questioning of patriarchal power. However it can be argued that Wonder Woman
isn’t able to challenge the male gaze at all times, as many critics have pointed out that wonder
woman is represented as semi naked having her thighs and other body parts constantly exposed.
The portrayal of wonder women, the attires she wears is criticised as succumbing to the male
gaze. The attire worn by Wonder Woman can also be questioned as whether such an outfit was
truly needed or was it only used to satisfy the male gaze.

Moreover, Female characters are also more likely to be part of a team rather than the leader of
the team, however this isn’t the case in Wonder Woman as she can be seen as the leader rather
than part of the team. Her role is portrayed as dominant rather than subordinate, it is made
evident in the movie that stereotypical beliefs that a male leader is necessary is in fact not true.
Male leadership is not necessary for success. Another aspect that the wonder woman movie
challenges is that male versus female battles automatically deems male as being the winner due
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to the biological strength difference, but this is defied in the film, as wonder woman prevails
over Ares in the final battle. Ares at some point portrays a male dominated society being
prevailed on by female power. However, The whole Diana myth, women safeguarding the world
from male violence not with nurture but with better violence, is a feminist act.

Wonder Woman, on the other hand, isn't so much a film about feminism as it is a checklist of all
the ways women are disempowered by cliches. So it leaves you perplexed and deflated. But the
underlying problem is that the male fighter is conceived as an ego ideal for a male audience. The
way wonder woman is portrayed is as if the film was made for the male glaze, hence the female
warrior becomes a sex object. Furthermore, An unbreakable female lead can be freeing to the
violent misogynist tendency because the violence directed at her will become even more
extreme, and no one has to feel bad because she will win.

In Wonder Woman, this is addressed head on. Meanwhile, the tension between the excitement of
the action, which is what war is all about, and the objectification, which is what women are all
about, is alluded to when Wonder Woman hurls someone across a room and a bystander says“I’m
both frightened, and aroused.” Additionally within all the fighting that happens:there’s a lot of
hurling, tons of lassoing, much less traditional fighting, where people harm one another with
punches, the kind of fighting deemed as more ladylike. Just like in the hunger games the fighting
always includes bows and arrows.

To sum up, wonder woman does not completely challenge the symbolic annihilation of women,
even though it is challenge in multiples was such a female dominance, leadership, empowerment
and independence from male counter parts, it is simply not fully able to tackle the issue as within
the movie, the main character herself is still be portrayed to satisfy the male glaze and still
portrays women as sex objects, the fighting style as portrayed above is still in a lady like manner.
Hence it can be concluded that wonder women only challenges the symbolic annihilation of
women at about 50 percent.