ABC's Quantico: A critical discourse analysis of female superiority and racial stereotypes. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pafford, Audrey; Matusitz, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Critical studies in television. Volume 12:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 288
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Aggressive language -- critical discourse analysis -- female superiority -- open coding -- racial stereotyping -- sex -- US television drama; Television -- Periodicals; Television criticism -- Periodicals; 384.5505
• DOI: 10.1177/1749602017717167
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1749-6020

Abstract

This article uses critical discourse analysis (CDA) to analyse occurrences of female superiority and racial stereotypes in Quantico, ABC's breakthrough show in fall 2015. This show features Alex Parrish, a strong female lead of Indian descent. Through the use of CDA, we looked closely at the behaviours and aggressive language of the show's characters. After analysing season 1 of Quantico (roughly 405 minutes of material), an important conclusion of this study is that, unlike other prime-time television tendencies in the past, the results of this analysis showed significantly more occurrences of female superiority than racial stereotyping. Evidence of female superiority came in the measures that concerned aggressive/authoritative language, violent behaviour and the sexualising of characters on ABC's Quantico .