At the beginning of the movie, Elle Woods gets broken up with by her boyfriend because he thinks thats he isn’t serious enough for Harvard Law School. She wants to prove him wrong so she works hard, gets into Harvard and goes through constant judgment because of how she looks and her personality.

Throughout the movie, Elle proves that she is smart and capable, eventually winning a big court case. She goes from being underestimated to being respected. This shows Aristotles idea of comedy as a rise in power.

Elle isn’t the perfect hero, she starts off kind of shallow but she is likable and is determined. Aristotle says that heroes in comedy are usually average people, and while she comes from wealth she does come from an average standing in life. She is not royalty or powerful, she’s just someone who is trying to prove herself.

The humor in this move shows how people judge others based on stereotypes. While the move is funny, it also is challenging the idea that femininity results in weakness.

By the end, instead of showing a downfall like a tragedy does, it shows growth and success. Thats why comedy is a meaningful art form. It shows us that people can rise, change and succeed in life.

The Barbie movie that came out in 2023, directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling appears as a fun and colorful movie about the doll Barbie. Behind all the pink there are many critiques one gender roles, feminism and our definition of identity today.

The movie starts in Barbieland where everything is perfect and women are in positions of power. Marie starts have thoughts about death and being imperfect which makes her go into the real world and explore. When she gets there she realizes women don’t actually live in a world with empowerment. At the same time, Ken discovers patriarchy and brings it into Barbieland which turn the power structure upside down. In the end, Barbie chooses to become human and find herself by defying the stereotypes.

The movie uses parody by exaggerating both feminism and patriarchy. Barbieland is the opposite version of the real world, which shows how power systems are, no matter who is controlling them are ridiculous.

It also uses hyperbole. Everything in Barbieland is very unrealistically perfect which makes fun of the expectations that are put on women to be beautiful, happy and successful all at the same time.

There’s also irony in the movie. A doll who is usually criticized for her unrealistic beauty standards is used in a way to criticize the same standers. How they portray the business men also makes fun of how corporations say they are focusing on empowerment while really focusing on their profit.

Barbie isn’t just making fun of men or corporations but the systems and expectations that force people to fit into specific roles. The humor behind the meaning makes it easier to accept but in reality it is serious.

By the end, Barbie chooses to embrace her imperfections and individuality over being the stereotypical Barbie. That choice shows the meaning that true empowerment comes from finding yourself not trying to fit into society expectations.