Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements

Abstract This study examines the portrayal of gender in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertising (CMA), a genre that blends futuristic technology with dystopian elements. By employing qualitative content analysis grounded in theories of gender performativity and media representation, this research exam...

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Main Authors: Chunfa Zhou, Beile Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-04-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04618-0
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author Chunfa Zhou
Beile Jin
author_facet Chunfa Zhou
Beile Jin
author_sort Chunfa Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study examines the portrayal of gender in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertising (CMA), a genre that blends futuristic technology with dystopian elements. By employing qualitative content analysis grounded in theories of gender performativity and media representation, this research examines how these advertisements construct gender images and their impact on societal gender norms. The analysis reveals that while CMA presents innovative gender representation, it also perpetuates existing stereotypes, particularly with regard to professional roles and emotional dynamics. The findings underscore the dual role of media in both challenging and reinforcing gender stereotypes and highlight the need for a more balanced portrayal of gender. This study contributes to the discourse on gender representation in media, offers insights into the unique intersection of Cyberpunk aesthetics and advertising, and calls for further research to explore the long-term effects of these representations on societal norms.
format Article
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series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-bbbd4ef5519b4a59a9656e128b27742b2025-08-20T02:17:05ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-04-0112111010.1057/s41599-025-04618-0Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisementsChunfa Zhou0Beile Jin1College of Design and Innovation. Zhejiang Normal UniversitySchool of Arts, Languages and Cultures, University of ManchesterAbstract This study examines the portrayal of gender in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertising (CMA), a genre that blends futuristic technology with dystopian elements. By employing qualitative content analysis grounded in theories of gender performativity and media representation, this research examines how these advertisements construct gender images and their impact on societal gender norms. The analysis reveals that while CMA presents innovative gender representation, it also perpetuates existing stereotypes, particularly with regard to professional roles and emotional dynamics. The findings underscore the dual role of media in both challenging and reinforcing gender stereotypes and highlight the need for a more balanced portrayal of gender. This study contributes to the discourse on gender representation in media, offers insights into the unique intersection of Cyberpunk aesthetics and advertising, and calls for further research to explore the long-term effects of these representations on societal norms.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04618-0
spellingShingle Chunfa Zhou
Beile Jin
Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
title_full Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
title_fullStr Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
title_full_unstemmed Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
title_short Empowered or constrained? Gender narratives in Cyberpunk-style microfilm advertisements
title_sort empowered or constrained gender narratives in cyberpunk style microfilm advertisements
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04618-0
work_keys_str_mv AT chunfazhou empoweredorconstrainedgendernarrativesincyberpunkstylemicrofilmadvertisements
AT beilejin empoweredorconstrainedgendernarrativesincyberpunkstylemicrofilmadvertisements