ABSTRACT

Muhammad Syaifulloh Al Faqih. C0310037. The Representation of Girl Power in

television series entitled “Once Upon a Time” Published in 2012 and directed by
Edward Kitsisand Adam Horowitz. Thesis. English Department. Faculty of
Cultural Sciences. Universitas Sebelas Maret Surakarta.

This thesis is written based on the analysis of Once Upon a Time television series. The

research aims to explain how the lead female character in Once Upon a Time, Emma

Swan represents the idea of Girl Power in American society. The research is descriptive

qualitative research which the main data are the character, acts, sounds, camera angles,

lighting, costumes, dialogue, and cinematographic elements of films. The supporting

data are taken from books, journals, reviews, websites, and related references. Socio-

culture approach, popular culture theory, post-feminist theory, and Charles Sanders

Pierce’s semiotic theory are applied to analyze the data since the source of the main

data is television series. The approach and the theory are connected to the context of

American society at the same time as the television series is aired. The result of the

research is Emma Swan represents the idea of Girl Power in American society. The

representation of Girl Power is depicted in Emma’s actions they are Emma as sheriff,

Emma as mother, and Emma as the dragon slayer. Emma breaks the traditional women

values and replaces it by becoming independent, tough, fearless and responsible.

Keywords: Semiotic theory by pierce, Girl Power, Post-feminism, Once upon a time