Exploring Feminist Perspectives in Horror Films in 'Bulbbul' & ‘Stree’

1. Department of English
Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University
Date: 4 April 2024
Sem 4। Batch 2022-24
Dissertation
Exploring Feminist
Perspectives in Horror
Films in 'Bulbbul' & ‘Stree’
Prepared by
Upasna Goswami
Presentation on

2. Exploring Feminist
Perspectives in
Horror Films in
'Bulbbul' & ‘Stree’

3. ➢ Name:Upasna Goswami
➢ Rollno.20
➢ EnrollmentNo.4069206420220012
➢ Sem:4
➢ PaperName:Dissertation
➢ Topic : Exploring Feminist Perspectives in Horror Films in 'Bulbbul' &
‘Stree’
➢ Paperno. :210
➢ PaperCode :22417
➢ Submittedto:S.B.GardiDepartmentof English,M.K.B.U
➢ Email:goswamiupasna339@gmail.com
Personal Information

4. ● Introduction
● What is Horror?
● The Origins of Horror
● Women's Role in Horror
● Early Horror Films
● 1970s Horror
● Feminist Perspective in Horror Movie
● Evolution of Feminism
● Feminist Movement
● Superstition and Definition
● Role of Superstition in Horror
Chapter 1 - Introduction

5. ● The Historical and Supernatural Evolution of
Horror
● Research Quotation
● Hypotheses
● Conclusion
Chapter 2 - Literature Review

6. ● Horror films have historically reflected societal attitudes/fears
around female agency & sexuality, often portraying women as
victims, threats, or objects reinforcing patriarchal norms
● Contemporary feminist horror films subvert traditional tropes,
exploring issues like rape culture, female sexuality, and the
nuances of women's fears/desires
● Use of supernatural/mythological elements metaphorizes the
subjugation & oppression women face, with monstrous feminine
figures embodying suppressed rage against patriarchal
violence/control
● Indian horror drawing from regional folklore provides lens into
gender discrimination, violence against women, & grip of
patriarchal, superstitious belief systems
● Recent portrayal of witches in Indian horror reclaims the figure as
symbol of feminine power & resistance against patriarchal
norms/misogynistic superstitions
Hypotheses

7. 1. kinds of feminist messaging or commentary do we find in emerging horror films from postcolonial
or developing countries?
2. Do the frequent victimisation of possessed women in films symbolically connect with patterns of
gender violence, where the victimised become twisted into monstrous responses?
3. How do superstitions surrounding female "witchiness" and emotionality contribute to this
association?
4. Why have women historically been linked to occult forces and seen as vulnerable to possession in
societal beliefs?
5. Do the frequent victimisation of possessed women in films symbolically connect with patterns of
gender violence, where the victimised become twisted into monstrous responses?
6. What does the representation of common issues affecting women globally through familiar horror
tropes like witchcraft, hauntings, and demonic possession reveal about the shared systemic
subjugation of women across cultures?
7. Do the frequent victimisation of possessed women in films symbolically connect with patterns of
gender violence, where the victimised become twisted into monstrous responses?
Research Question

8. Chapter 3 - Analysis of Feminist
Perspectives in Bollywood Horror Film
'Bulbbul'
� Feminist Perspectives in Film Analysis
� Overview of the Horror Genre’s Historical
� Portrayal of Women and Its Implications for
Feminist Critique
� Introduction to the Bollywood Film, 'Bulbul'
� Mythological Themes and Gender-Based
Discrimination
� Societal Commentary
� Gender Dynamics
� Symbolism and Imagery
� Representation of Women in the film 'Bulbbul'
� Patriarchy and Power Structures

9. ● Introduction to the Movie 'Stree'
● Feminist Perspective on 'Stree'
● Deconstruction of Gender Roles and Societal
Expectations
● Representation of Traditional Gender Roles
● Exploration of Superstition and Feminism in the
Movie 'Stree'
● Mythological Themes and Gender-Based
Discrimination
● Sexuality and Consent
Chapter 4 - Analysis of Feminist
Perspectives in Bollywood Horror Film ‘Stree’

10. Chapter 5 - Conclusion
1. Analyzing feminist themes in horror films reveals the intricate connections
between societal norms, media representations of women, and women's lived
experiences of oppression across cultures.
2. It highlights the psychological toll of systemic misogyny and violence against
women, symbolically depicted through supernatural metaphors of reclaiming
agency.
3. It provokes critical examination of patriarchal structures and regressive gender
norms while amplifying marginalized voices.
4. It underscores the urgent need for better mental health support systems for
women impacted by gender-based trauma.
Ultimately, this research aims to catalyze vital social discourse and collective
action towards dismantling entrenched biases and creating a more equitable world
for all women.

11. Agadzhanova, Yelena, and Maisha Thakur. “The History of Horror.” The Stuyvesant Spectator, 26 October 2023, https://stuyspec.com/article/the-history-of-horror.
Accessed 24 February 2024.
Belinda Mariend Nanthini Chandra Kanthan Balraja. “Viewer's perception on the portrayal and evolution of women in horror movie.” Academia.edu, 22 November
2022, https://www.academia.edu/100092846/Viewers_perception_on_the_portrayal_and_evolution_of_women_in_horror_movie. Accessed 24 February
2024.
Bhattacharya, Ananya. “One of India's first horror comedies has a radical Feminist lesson.” Quartz, 15 September 2018, https://qz.com/quartzy/1383793/one-of-
indias-first-horror-comedies-has-a-radical-Feminist -lesson. Accessed 18 March 2024.
Bose, Dr. Arnab. “Why does a Chudail’s feet face backwards?” YouTube: Home, 3 June 2009, http://www.advait.world/why-does-a-chudails-feet-face-backwards/.
Accessed 17 March 2024/
Clasen, Mathias. “(PDF) The Horror! The Horror!” ResearchGate, 3 July 2019, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334203697_The_Horror_The_Horror.
Accessed 6 February 2024.
Das, Jyotiparna. “Endeavoring woman's awakening: An analysis of Anvita Dutt's 'Bulbbul' .” international journal for innovative research in multidisciplinary field,
31 July 2020, https://www.ijirmf.com/wp-content/uploads/IJIRMF202007021.pdf. Accessed 12 March 2024.
Dimri, Tripti. “HAIR AS A METOPHER FOR Feminist IC AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION IN INDIAN AESTHETICS BASED ON THE MOVIE
BULBUL DIRECTED BY ANVITA.” rjelal, 21 December 2022, http://www.rjelal.com/10.4.22/186-195%20Dr.%20Edison%20K%20Verghese.pdf.
Accessed 25 February 2024.
Dutt, Anvita, director. 'Bulbbul' . Clean Slate Filmz, 2020.
Elham, Jenin Hossain. “https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376269291_Analyzing_Patriarchy_from_the_Feminist _Perspective_in_the_Movie.” YouTube:
Home, 3 June 2009, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376269291_Analyzing_Patriarchy_from_the_Feminist _Perspective_in_the_Movie. Accessed
12 March 2024.
ET Bureau. “'Stree' review: The movie delivers a message with pinch of humour, horror.” The Economic Times, 3 September 2018,
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/stree-review-the-movie-delivers-a-message-with-a-pinch-of-humour-and-
horror/articleshow/65654843.cms?from=mdr. Accessed 22 March 2024.
Bibliography

12. Fraser, Rosie. “The History of Horror.” The Gothic Library, 30 October 2017, https://www.thegothiclibrary.com/the-history-of-horror/. Accessed 6 February 2024.
Hitchcock, Alfred. “Feminism and the Effects of Horror Films on the Movement.” CSUSB ScholarWorks, 27 July 2023,
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1291&context=history-in-the-making. Accessed 9 February 2024.
“In History No One Can Hear You Scream: Feminism and the Horror Film 1974-1996 Robert Mehls.” In History No One Can Hear You Scream: Feminism and the Horror
Film 1974-1996 Robert Mehls A thesis submitted to the Faculty of, 15 November 2015, https://scholar.colorado.edu/downloads/p5547r73c. Accessed 23 February
2024.
Kamil, Manaar. “(PDF) The Representation of Women in the Horror Movies: A Study in Selected Horror Movies.” ResearchGate, 20 May 2019,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334482464_The_Representation_of_Women_in_the_Horror_Movies_A_Study_in_Selected_Horror_Movies. Accessed 7
February 2024.
Karmakar, Goutam, and Payel Pal. “Framing the Feminist Horror: Repression, Revenge, and Retaliation in Stree(2018) and ''Bulbbul' ' (2020).” Wikipedia, August 2022,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362516777_Framing_the_Feminist _Horror_Repression_Revenge_and_Retaliation_in_Stree_2018_and_'Bulbbul' _2020.
Accessed 18 March 2024.
Kaushik, Amar, et al., directors. Stree. Jio Studios Maddock Films D2R Films, 2018.
Khadim, Tanveer. “Scary folklore paired with good comedy, Streeis a fine one-time entertainer.” The Express Tribune, 26 September 2018,
https://tribune.com.pk/article/72167/scary-folklore-paired-with-good-comedy-stree-is-a-fine-one-time-entertainer. Accessed 22 March 2024.
Khan, Gazala. “THE SILENCED VOICES IN THE STORIES OF ‘'Bulbbul' ’, ‘PHILOMELA’ AND ‘AHALYA’: AN ECOFeminist STUDY.” Wikipedia, October 2020,
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gazala-Khan-4/publication/352572636_THE_SILENCED_VOICES_IN_THE_STORIES_OF_''Bulbbul'
'_'PHILOMELA'_AND_'AHALYA'_AN_ECOFeminist _STUDY_THE_SILENCED_VOICES_IN_THE_STORIES_OF_''Bulbbul'
'_'PHILOMELA'_AND_'AHALYA'_AN_ECOFeminist _S. Accessed 22 March 2024.
LOU TREMBLAY. “The Rise of Feminist Horror, by Lou Tremblay – Dawson English Journal.” Dawson English Journal, 2022,
https://www.dawsonenglishjournal.ca/article/the-rise-of-Feminist -horror-by-lou-tremblay/. Accessed 24 February 2024.
Manaar Kamil Sa'eed, Haider Saad Yahya Jubran. “The Representation of Women in the Horror Movies: A Study in Selected Horror Movies.” YouTube: Home, 20 May
2019,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334482464_The_Representation_of_Women_in_the_Horror_Movies_A_Study_in_Selected_Horror_Movies/link/5f14ae7
64585151299a77468/download?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7InBhZ2UiOiJwdWJsaWNhdGlvbiIsInByZXZpb3VzUGFnZSI6bnVsbH19. Accessed 24 February 2024.

13. Mukherjee, Riya, and Suraj Gunwant. “Reimagining Witches in Contemporary Hindi Cinema: A Study of “'Bulbbul' ” and “Roohi.”” YouTube: Home, 3 June
2009, https://iafor.org/archives/journals/iafor-journal-of-arts-and-humanities/10.22492.ijah.9.1.pdf#page=45. Accessed 25 February 2024.
Pandey, Nishtha. “Female Ghosts In Bollywood Movies, Why So Much Vengeance?” Women's Web, 20 September 2018,
https://www.womensweb.in/2018/09/female-ghosts-in-bollywood-horror-movies-full-of-vengeance-sept18wk4mc/. Accessed 22 March 2024.
Pathak, Ankur. “'Stree' Movie Review: Smashing Patriarchy, One Shriek At A Time.” HuffPost, 31 August 2018,
https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/stree-movie-review-smashing-patriarchy-one-shriek-at-a-time_in_5c10aea4e4b06e80c3f914e0. Accessed
22 March 2024.
Ramos, Dra. Ana M. González. “Who Possesses “Possessed Women”? Women and Female Bodies as Territories for Male Interference.” Redalyc, 15 Auguste
2018, https://www.redalyc.org/journal/2732/273267157008/html/. Accessed 22 March 2024.
Roy, Srijani. “Understanding ''Bulbbul' ' — The ArmChair Journal.” The ArmChair Journal, 6 September 2020, https://armchairjournal.com/understanding-
'Bulbbul' /. Accessed 25 February 2024.
Sharma, Anushka, and Karnesh Sharma. “Exploring Mythological Themes and Gender-Based Discrimination: A Multi-Theoretical Analysis of Superstition,
Tradition, and Modernity in Two Bollywood Films, 'Stree' and ''Bulbbul' .'” IJCRT.org, 5 May 2023, https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT2305693.pdf.
Accessed 22 March 2024.
Singh, Sakshi. “A STUDY ON THE PANORAMIC TRUTH OF 'Bulbbul' .” A STUDY ON THE PANORAMIC TRUTH OF 'Bulbbul' , 2023,
https://www.eurchembull.com/uploads/paper/02ef36c5780b4b1a528b0f80bc9e670f.pdf. Accessed 12 March 2024.
Sunil, Malavika K. “Chudails' of Contemporary Bollywood : Study of Feminist horror tales.” Wikipedia, 2021,
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yE8-
EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=stree+movie+&ots=oGe6v8BVn9&sig=8wsJVZlOqrqN17zHdLNp8FWPsfs&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=stree
%20movie&f=false. Accessed 18 March 2024.
“Supernatural Horror in Literature.” Wasabi, : 1938, https://s3.us-west-1.wasabisys.com/luminist/EB/L/Lovecraft%20-
%20Supernatural%20Horror_ebook.pdf. Accessed 23 February 2024.

14. Tilakaratne, Wishka. “'Bulbbul' : Unpacking Harsh Realities.” MovieWeb, 21 July 2022,
https://movieweb.com/'Bulbbul' -unpacking-harsh-realities/. Accessed 12 March 2024.
TORTOLANI, ERICA, and Barbet Schroeder. “DUAL IMAGES OF THE â•œMONSTROUS FEMININEâ•š
IN THREE HORROR FILMS.” DigitalCommons@URI, 2015,
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1542&context=theses. Accessed 24 February
2024.
“The First Horror Movie & The History of the Horror Genre.” New York Film Academy, 21, JULY 2022,
https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/how-horror-movies-have-changed-since-their-beginning/.
Accessed 24 February 2024.
“The Genre of Horror.” American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 4 April 2012,
https://www.aijcrnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_4_April_2012/16.pdf. Accessed 23 February 2024.
Varier, Swathy R., et al. “Gender-Related Violence In Michaelapted’s Enough(2002)And Anvita Dutt’s
'Bulbbul' (2020).” Wikipedia, 4 March 2021,
https://annalsofrscb.ro/index.php/journal/article/view/7874/5819. Accessed 22 March 2024.

15. Thank You