"It's time to try defying gravity": interseccionalidades na trajetória de Elphaba Thropp em Wicked (2024)

Abstract

In contemporary society, the historical marginalization of women is indisputable and undeniable. This problem is directly related to the numerous challenges imposed on women, especially with regard to issues of gender, class and race. In view of this, this research problematizes the challenges imposed on the protagonist of the film Wicked (2024), Elphaba, due to a unique characteristic: the green color of her skin. Since childhood, Elphaba has faced discrimination regarding the color of her skin, even within her own family, being rejected by her own father. When she becomes an adult, when she is accepted into the Shiz Witchcraft University, she continues to be the victim of prejudice and discrimination by her classmates due to her physical appearance. Despite this, Elphaba resists and does not bow down to the persecutions and humiliations experienced throughout his life, both in the family and school spheres. In this sense, this study aims to answer the following concern: How does the protagonist Elphaba deal with the challenges imposed related to gender, class, and race issues in the film Wicked (2024)? To answer this question, the following general objective was established: to investigate how the protagonist Elphaba deals with the challenges imposed related to gender, class, and race issues in the film Wicked (2024) in the light of Feminist Studies. In order to achieve it, the following specific objectives were elaborated: (i) to discuss the theoretical assumptions of Feminist Studies, with emphasis on the concept of intersectionality; (ii) describe the prejudices experienced by Elphaba in his childhood, adolescence and adult life in relation to gender, class and race; and (iii) demonstrate how the protagonist Elphaba resists discrimination related to her physical appearance, with regard to gender and race. Regarding the methodological path, a bibliographic research was carried out, with a qualitative approach, of an exploratory nature, based on authors such as Bell Hooks (2020), Lúcia Osana Zolin (2009), Patrícia Collins and Sirma Bilge (2021), among others. The findings, obtained through the paradigm of interpretative analysis, showed that the character Elphaba Thropp, from the film Wicked (2024), resists the obstacles imposed by issues of gender, class, and race, which position her in a condition of marginalization throughout her personal trajectory.