"Den typiska skurken"

Sammanfattning: This essay conducts a semiotic analysis of four Walt Disney Pictures films, two from the 1990s and two from the past decade. The films were selected based on their release periods and shared narratives. The first two films analyzed are Vaiana from 2016 and Pocahontas from 1995, chosen for their focus on independent female protagonists. The other two films, En annorlunda värld from 2022 and Lejonkungen from 1994, revolves around father-son relationships. The study draws primarily on Gillian Rose's semiotic analysis, utilizing Connell's (2005) masculinity theory, Eder's (2010) character clock, and Seger's (1990) supporting characters. Hall's (2015) concepts of representation and stereotypes are also employed. The study concludes that Vaiana and En annorlunda värld showcase similarities and differences in villain portrayal compared to Pocahontas and Lejonkungen. While villains in all four films possess dark qualities, vaiana features a transformed antagonist, adding complexity, and En annorlunda värld challenges typical villain stereotypes through Calisto's character.