Historical text

Primary research through watching episodes and documentaries about Wonder Woman.

Wonder woman started shortly after Batman and Superman in the 1970's, her character was based around the woman of the amazon.

She in dressed in red blue and white with stars on the blue, she's basically wearing the american flag and this represents patriotic forces of world war two, althought she wears a skimpy outfit she is not a sexual character, she is a symbol to woman as she is not being defiled by exposure of her body. Catwoman wears tight black leather outfits which could be seen as sexual especially for the male gaze, but on the other hand she uses her sexuality to empower men and take advantage of them.


The weapons she carries are her tiarra and a lasso, the rope can be seen as a phallic object as with catwoman she has a whip and that is also seen as a phallic object.

Wonder woman started in the 1970's near to the time where the womens movement had taken place and when femenism was exploding across the country, the programme convey woman being heard in society today. As it's was being shown on tv after the war it made sense to make the villain Nazi's. Wonder woman represents America and its allies and blue red and white are also the colours used on the union jack also know as the British flag, making there enemies the nazi's as this is who they fought during World War Two. When she isn't Wonder woman she works as the secretary in the war department in Washington DC hiding her identity. This challenges the stereotype of women being expected to be housewives and taking on a motherly role. During the war many woman had to work as most of the men had to go and fight.

Both superheroines originate from the DC (Detective Comics) comic books and instituted by Warner Brothers.

Secondary research from the internet and books about Wonder Woman and other text I will mention.

Links:
*An encyclopedia page about wonder woman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman

*Articles on wonder woman.
http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/articles.html

*Amazons of Greek mythology. Amazons were warriors women who lived in a materiachal society. They had a role reversal with men and were the more dominant ones in their society. Wonder Woman is Princess Diana of the amazon warrior tribe. We now live in a patrichal world over ruled by men but how come a materiachal world is a myth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons

*Marston was the creator of the systolic blood-pressure test, which lead to the creation of the polygraph(lie detector). Because of his discovery, Marston was convinced that women were more honest and reliable than men and could work faster and more accurately. During his life time, Marston championed the causes of women. This is how wonder woman and her lasso which made people tell the truth was created.
http://www.wonderwoman-online.com/marston.html

*Women's movement, were women campaigned to have equality with men.
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0018450.html

Supergirl 1984
girl is also a superheroine from the DC comics, she is also known as supermans cousin.
The film had failed hugely in the boxoffice as it couldn't impress critics or audiences. It was'nt distributed by Warner Brothers as Superman 3was a big failure it was distributed by TriStar Pictures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergirl_(film)#Plot .

Alien 1979
ripley ( Sigourney weaver) kills alien and all men die she's the only surviver. not a streotypical woman.