Media depictions of female heroes who are physically powerful and dynamically effective were the topic of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Dr. Roberta Chevrette

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Roberta Chevrette, an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies in the College of Liberal Arts, first aired July 14 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can listen to their conversation via the Soundcloud link above.

Dr. Heather Hundley

Chevrette and fellow MTSU communication studies professor Heather Hundley co-authored “Dangerous Dames: Representing Female-Bodied Empowerment in Postfeminist Media” with Hillary A. Jones of California State University-Fresno.

Their book examines “female-bodied warriors” in such fictional works as “Atomic Blonde,” “Wonder Woman,” “Kill Bill,” “The Hunger Games” and “The Bionic Woman.”

“Specifically, when we think about ‘dangerous dames,’ we think about these figures as so threatening to patriarchal systems that they endanger limitations that have been placed on women,” Chevrette said.

“But we also find the representations themselves limiting. There’s a particular type of strong woman who’s featured, typically, as slender and kicks ass while being very sexy, and we find that to be also a bit dangerous.”

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at http://mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.