Contemporary creation of female identity through conflict in the postmodern fairy tale: an analysis of the film Cruella (2021)

Abstract

The article presents the results of qualitative interpretive research conducted as part of a doctoral thesis devoted to the analysis of the image of femininity in contemporary film fairy tales. The aim of the research is to show the pedagogical potential of popular culture as a space for creating a contemporary female identity, using the example of the interpretation of the attitudes and behaviors of the main character of the contemporary, postmodern film fairy tale Cruella (Gillespie, 2021). The author analyzes the film from the perspective of the process of maturation and shaping the female identity of the main character. The fairy tale protagonist, known in pop culture, must face both challenges resulting from socio-cultural expectations towards women, manifested in her interpersonal relations, as well as internal conflicts, symbolizing the process of shaping her adult identity. The article uses a content analysis method based on the critical paradigm, which allows for a detailed interpretation of how the film’s presentation of Estella’s relationships with other characters and her internal struggles reflect contemporary concepts of gender and cultural identity. The results of the research have shown that the main character’s maturation process is connected with the acceptance of her own personality traits and transformation. The transformation of the title character can be interpreted as a critique of traditional patterns of femininity. The conclusions of the research show that Cruella not only reinterprets the framework of female identity and classic fairy tale motifs, but also emphasizes the importance of individualism, self-awareness, and acceptance of one’s own multidimensional nature in the maturation process. The film presents a new, complex interpretation of femininity, showing the possibilities of its redefinition in the face of contemporary social and cultural challenges, which emphasizes the pedagogical potential of popular culture in creating a contemporary model of identity for young women.