Reproduction of the warrior woman archetype in films and TV series

This study examines the evolving portrayal of the warrior woman archetype in Turkish TV series and films after the 2000s, particularly about the rising prominence of feminism in contemporary discourse. Drawing on Carl Gustav Jung's concept of the archetype, it investigates how the traditionally male-dominated warrior figure has been re-imagined and reconstructed with female heroes in recent popular culture. Using critical discourse analysis, the study analyzes different representations of the warrior woman archetype in selected films and TV series across diverse historical periods and ideological orientations, including Destan (2021-2022), Diriliş: Ertuğrul (2014-2019), Kuruluş Osman (2019-), Uyanış: Büyük Selçuklu (2020-2021), Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2011-2014), Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem (2015-2017), Elveda Rumeli (2007-2009), Vatanım Sensin (2016-2018), Hacivat ve Karagöz Neden Öldürüldü? (2006), Fetih 1453 (2012), and Malazgirt 1071 (2022). The thesis aims to show how and to what extent popular media texts that incorporate different ideological attitudes negotiate and employ feminist elements, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between media, gender, and ideology. Additionally, it explores how commercial concerns and market demands, characteristic of the consumer society, influence and shape the representations of these women warrior characters, potentially impacting their overall message and cultural significance. Keywords: Feminism; warrior women; archetype; media; gender; TV series; movies; popular culture; ideology