The superhero costume is a fundamental component to a characters identity that enforces power and signifies the roles and responsibilities that the superhero must convey to its community. Costume is also an element of aesthetic gratification, which is often used in order to exemplify the human physique.
The superheroin costume is a controversial subject matter in the film and comic industry. Sexualisation amongst female characters is often brought to the attention of the audience; movies have been condemned by film critics because of the feminization that characters are subjected to.
“The contemporary action heroine enacts a sexualized femininity to which display is central; while these women are physically active, independent agents, then, there is no …show more content…
Purse states that the present-day superheroin is exploited as an object of erotic spectacle; this suggests that costume is used to feminize the female body to not only engage with it’s male audience, but to connect with it’s female viewers in a way in which they aspire to the unrealistic body ideals of the characters.
There are numerous film examples that highlight the concept of female sexualisation through the use of costume. Catwoman, who is played by Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer in the film adaptation of Batman Returns (1992), is a prime example of a character that embodies feminine might after a sudden on-screen transformation that sees a dramatic change in costume and persona. She is suddenly sporting a black latex catsuit from head-to-toe constructed from a patent leather raincoat by her own bare hands (Bolton, 2008), and her identity is precipitously masked. In an interview with Another Magazine the costume designer for Catwoman, Mary Vogt (2012), confessed that the catsuit was intended to portray a sexual image of the character, stating that “latex is as black and sexy and tight as you can get”. Latex is often associated with the sex industry, and it’s specific function
The superheroin costume is a controversial subject matter in the film and comic industry. Sexualisation amongst female characters is often brought to the attention of the audience; movies have been condemned by film critics because of the feminization that characters are subjected to.
“The contemporary action heroine enacts a sexualized femininity to which display is central; while these women are physically active, independent agents, then, there is no …show more content…
Purse states that the present-day superheroin is exploited as an object of erotic spectacle; this suggests that costume is used to feminize the female body to not only engage with it’s male audience, but to connect with it’s female viewers in a way in which they aspire to the unrealistic body ideals of the characters.
There are numerous film examples that highlight the concept of female sexualisation through the use of costume. Catwoman, who is played by Hollywood actress Michelle Pfeiffer in the film adaptation of Batman Returns (1992), is a prime example of a character that embodies feminine might after a sudden on-screen transformation that sees a dramatic change in costume and persona. She is suddenly sporting a black latex catsuit from head-to-toe constructed from a patent leather raincoat by her own bare hands (Bolton, 2008), and her identity is precipitously masked. In an interview with Another Magazine the costume designer for Catwoman, Mary Vogt (2012), confessed that the catsuit was intended to portray a sexual image of the character, stating that “latex is as black and sexy and tight as you can get”. Latex is often associated with the sex industry, and it’s specific function