ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-008, July, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A qualitative visual semiotic analysis of symbolic violence against female characters in selected South African television soaps
Moyahabo Molefe
Department of Communication Science, University of Zululand (Richards Bay campus). [email protected]
Accepted 13 June, 2023
Abstract
South African (SA) television is awash with myriad television genres, one of which is soap operas. Soap opera is a serial show that highlights related storylines revolving around the lives of various characters. Soap operas are popular with audiences because they provide human tales that are immersed into concrete or fictitious social reality. However, symbolic violence against female characters becomes a common feature of the genre. Female characters are often portrayed as occupying the periphery of the constructed social hierarchies. Such depictions construct a female character who is vulnerable and envious of the success of their male counterparts. In desperate attempt to succeed, female characters resort to betrayal, deception, witchcraft and promiscuity. The purpose of this paper was to undertake a qualitative visual semiotic analysis of two SA television soaps, Imbewu and Uzalo to understand how images were used to deploy subtleties of violence against female characters in SA context. The study was situated within Feminist Theory; content/thematic (visual semiotics) was used to analyse data.The study found that television images and other related signs in soap operas were used to disperse narratives that entrenched subjugation, stereotypes and sexist acts that constituted symbolic violence against female characters in SA context.
Keywords: Television Soap, Feminism, Symbolic Violence, Semiotics.