Abstrak

This thesis is written based on the analysis of Once Upon a Time television series.
The research aims to explain how the lead female character in Once Upon a Time,
Emma Swan represents the idea of Girl Power in American society. The research is
descriptive qualitative research, in which the main data are the character, acts,
sounds, camera angles, lighting, costumes, dialogue, and cinematographic elements
of the film. The supporting data are taken from books, journals, reviews, websites,
and related references. Socio-cultural approach, popular culture theory, post-feminist
theory, and Charles Sanders Pierce’s semiotic theory are applied to analyze the data
since the source of the main data is television series. The approach and the theory are
connected to the context of American society at the same time as the television series
is aired. The result of the research is Emma Swan represents the idea of Girl Power in
American society. The representation of Girl Power is depicted in Emma’s actions
they are Emma as sheriff, Emma as mother, and Emma as the dragon slayer. Emma
breaks the traditional women values and replaces it by becoming independent, tough,
fearless and responsible.