Mixed Signals

Mixed Signals

Marston's first wave of Wonder Woman comics sends mixed signals. Looking back now, in 2015, it is clear that Wonder Woman and all of her recreations played an important role in the Suffrage movement and in the progression of Women's rights. Having never before read or seen any Wonder Woman before this week, the Lynda Carter version of Wonder Woman is more of what I expected: a beautiful, strong woman always proving that she is as (and even more) powerful and heroic as her suppressive counterpart gender. 

As we now know, Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman intended to be faithful to Marston's original comic. However, what immediately stood out to me in Marston's comic, that is clearly drastically different from Lynda Carter, is Wonder Woman's figure and appearance. Both characters are witty, strong, courageous, and broke from the female stereotype of their day; though, as we discussed in class, Marston depicted Wonder Woman in a not-so (modernly) feminine figure that followed that of ancient Greek sculpture. Marston's Wonder Woman appears physically strong and muscular, while Carter has a delicate figure. Why did Marston decide to aesthetically depict Wonder Woman in this way? While it is clear that the producer's of Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman felt it necessary to make her more feminine and were likely more concerned with viewership than a lasting effect on the women's rights movement, perhaps Marston felt a more masculine Wonder Woman would have been more easily identifiable with.