Philippine E-Journals

A Study on the Nuances of Feminist Portrayals of the Selected Women Antagonists in Five Selected Films

Francesca Nadine S. Bautista | Marie Faye L. Purugganan | Monina T. Bello

 

Abstract:

This study was conducted to determine whether the selected women antagonists namely Bella Flores, Celia Rodriguez, Cherrie Gil, Gladys Reyes and Princess Punzalan in their corresponding films: ‘Roberta’ (1951), ‘Kampanerang Kuba’ (1974), ‘Bituing Walang Ningning’ (1985), ‘Mara Clara’ (1996) and ‘Mula sa Puso’ (1999) possess feminism through their characters, scenes, dialogue and gestures. These were done through a qualitative method where the researchers conducted interviews from experts and a focus group interview among 6 film students. The study was analyzed using a content analysis and a Semiotic Theory by Charles Sanders Pierce as the conceptual framework. The framework consists of three main parts: the Interpretant/ Signified which is the analyzation, Representamen/Signifier which is their character/portrayal, dialogue, scenes and gestures; and the Referent/Object which stands for the fve women antagonists. The study aims to widen the knowledge of the masses towards the role of kontrabidas (antagonists) and to determine whether these characters depicted feminism. Also, previous studies were made mainly for bidas (protagonists) which encouraged the researchers to give light to the lack of attention and studies/literature dedicated to antagonists.