Media, movies and entertainment reflect current events
Some use subtle approaches, some more obvious (examples)
Big franchises have a larger, more diverse audience, so they tend to engage rhetorically in a subtle way
Star wars encourages girls to be brave, but only to a certain degree
But they still reflect feminist movements throughout the decades
Thesis:
The leading female characters from the Star Wars franchise are a direct reflection of the feminist movements prior to their release.
Leia is a reflection of the “Second Wave Feminist movement”
Agenda: more equality in the workplace and home life
Leia is smart, witty, and brave
The writers took advantage of kairos to create a better female character
But, she still has flaws (over-sexualization, only 15% of screen time in movie 4 )
Early 90’s : Third wave Feminist Movement
Wanted more legal and political equality
Padme is a powerful women in politics who takes no nonsense from the boys
“So this is how democracy dies, in thunderous applause”
Padme is an embodiment of everything that the Third Wave fought for women to be seen as: a powerful, intelligent leader who was still feminine.
Rey does stem from some kairotic movement, but is mostly a combination of all feminism in the last 50 years
However, the writers kinda use logos to justify why she is strong and independent, rather than just letting her be (speeder hot-wire, fighting skills)
Majorly engages with pathos though by essentially rewarding women with a strong female lead – women were so excited to see a girl in front
Even engages with pathos when she is degraded constantly (“girl”), the audience (at least the female audience) feels enraged by this and recognizes not to to that in real life
Each of the female leads is a direct reflection of the movements that had come before them
Women sustain in battle, men just swoop in and out when they want to (real life and movie)