CINEMATOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF FEMALE IMAGES OF MEDIEVAL LITERATURE IN THE CONTEXT OF TEACHING HISTORY OF ARTS AND HISTORY OF FOREIGN LITERATURE

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyse the images of women in medieval literature and their interpretation in contemporary cinema from ethical and cultural perspectives. The topic’s relevance is driven by changes in societal attitudes towards the role of women and the influence of media on the formation of gender perceptions. The paper focuses on the gender stereotypes that existed at that time and their impact on modern views of femininity. In particular, it examines adaptations of medieval female characters in films, offering new perspectives on the role of women in society.

Methodology. The methodological basis of this study is cultural hermeneutics and feminist critics. The research methods include the analysis of mythological texts, cultural and historical context, and contemporary interpretations of myths in art.

Scientific novelty. The article shows for the first time that two maximally contrasting paradigmatic images of medieval literature (Isolde and Grendel's mother) have common features, as they refer to the principle of the sensual/spontaneous/chaotic, which opposes an ordered society and the Cosmos. It is shown that in film adaptations this aspect fades into the background, while the psychology of the heroines is emphasized, in particular, their struggle for the right to control their own destiny.

Conclusions. It was established that Isolde and Grendel's mother perform different functions in the plots, which reflects the contrast between the image of a romantic heroine and the embodiment of a threat to male society. Isolde symbolizes the irresistible power of love, while Grendel's mother represents danger and a challenge to traditional norms. These and other characters represent a variety of stereotypes and societal perceptions of women in the Middle Ages, from idealizing the image of bride and mother to giving strong women monstrous traits. Modern adaptations of these images in the films Tristan and Isolde (2006) and Beowulf (2007) show how female characters are reinterpreted, emphasizing their independence. This is indicative of the evolution of the perception of women in modern culture and, in particular in cinema, a clear emphasis on such modern ethical values as equality and independence of women. These adaptations serve as evidence of changing social norms and expectations. Current interpretations of female images in film are largely influenced by feminist philosophy, which points to deeper changes in the perception of female roles and their representation in popular culture and media, reflecting the movement for the empowerment and adjustment of women's responsibilities in modern society. Cultural dynamics, using the example of specific female images, convey changes in social values and perceptions of female identity in modern society.