Feminist Hypertextuality In Fairy Tale Adaptations: Cinderella, From Docility To Independence

Résumé: The notion of “Hypertext” is most commonly used as a reference to different links in computer science, however, within literature it was adopted by Gerard Genette, to denote a distinct type of intertextuality used to scrutinise fiction. In a broader sense, hypertextuality refers to the process of re-writing a text with adding a satirical touch. The new created text, which is the hypertext, serves as a commentary to the original one to transmit a particular message. As for Cinderella, it is famous for its many reworks, though the focus will be on a comparative study between Cinderella, the Disney movie, and its 2021’s Hollywood adaptation of the same title. The story gained enough traction due to its allure for young girls which personifies the perfect princess story eventually saved by her true love, the prince. Yet, during the 21st century the female perspective of the dream has shifted from dependency to autonomy. Hence, this paper aims at probing into the 21st century’s film adaptation of Cinderella as it epitomizes: the functionality of hypertextuality and, more importantly, how society’s gaze towards women is altered within different time periods.

Publié dans la revue: Aleph