"Oh, the [digital] Humanities!" – Eine quantitative Gender-Analyse von The Big Bang Theory (original) (raw)

This paper aims to use quantitative methods to compare how men and women are portrayed in the popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory and whether both genders are equally represented. First, an analysis will be conducted to examine differences in the proportion of speaking time (number of speeches, percentage of speeches in the show, percentage of words in the show and average speech length) between male and female characters. Several decades ago, Laura Mulvey noted in her canonical essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" that women in films are often relegated to more passive roles, serving as beautiful, erotic objects, while men take on more active roles that drive the narrative forward. This concept can be extended to dialogue shares, as greater or lesser speaking time implies more active or passive roles, respectively. In the second part of the study, the focus will shift to whether the characters in The Big Bang Theory discuss stereotypical topics and hobbies typically associated with their gender. Beyond passivity, it is frequently observed in films and television series that women are subjected to more negative stereotypes than men. The renowned gender theorist Judith Butler, in her book "Gender Trouble", argues that socially constructed notions of gender can only be transformed by disrupting or parodying them, for example, through camp aesthetics. In this context, the study will examine whether the series succeeds in challenging traditional stereotypes and contributing to the portrayal of positive and subversive images of men and women on television. Furthermore, the paper will evaluate the tools used in the analysis, highlighting the possibilities and limitations of digital methods in media studies, such as distant reading. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31102.46405/2 (peer-reviewed)