She-Ra and the Princesses of Power : Exploring Character Development and Queer Representation

Abstract: In this thesis the animated tv series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and the representation and the character development within it is researched and analyzed.  In television and media, representation has a history of being narrow. But in 2018 the animated tv series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power came and showed how broad representation could be done, and how it can be done by creating characters who are allowed to develop. Our aim with the study was to study the character development and the representation, with a focus on queer identities and themes.  With the series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power as a case, and through visual analysis and character analysis we approached our study and this subject. Our study resulted with the conclusion that queer representation does not have to be direct or in your face. With focus on the characters own developments, and letting them exist in a non-heteronormative world, they got to emerge as their own persons with complex identities which are not relying on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The show instead shows that it's possible to provide broad representation where everyone can exist in a world that does not abide by the norms that are found in real society. It also became clear that the series real aim was on the importance of friendship, love and acceptance, rather than the storyline which was a mere entertaining excuse for this deeper meaning.