Wilfrid Laurier University Scholars Commons @ Laurier Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) 2016 Twerking, Alcohol, and Fame: The Construction of Disney Celebrities in the Media Carla R. López Wilfrid Laurier University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd Part of the Criminology Commons, Mass Communication Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation López, Carla R., "Twerking, Alcohol, and Fame: The Construction of Disney Celebrities in the Media" (2016). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 1844. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/1844 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Twerking, Alcohol, and Fame: The Construction of Disney Celebrities in the Media by Carla Renée López BA Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2009 BA (Honours) Law and Society, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2012 THESIS Submitted to the Department of Criminology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Masters of Arts (Criminology, specialization in Media Criminology) Wilfrid Laurier University © Carla Renée López 2016 2 Abstract The mass media expanded intrusion of cameras into the public and private lives of celebrities has contributed to the public's fascination with Hollywood celebrities. Specifically, this cultural obsession has been increasingly centered on female celebrity's increased deviancy and criminal behaviours. Although numerous studies have been completed discussing the cultural fixation of Hollywood celebrity culture and the audience’s attachment to these celebrities, few have provided insight into the media construction of cultural narratives surrounding Disney celebrities. To fill the gap in the literature, I will assess how female celebrity deviance and sexuality is constructed in the media by examining the media portrayal of three Disney celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez as either victims or villains (Loseke, 2003). Using Charmaz (2006) constructivist grounded theory approach, I will analyze how the media has constructed social boundaries outlining the appropriate / inappropriate behaviours of women. KEYWORDS: Social Constructionism, Popular Culture, Disney, Criminology, Narratives, Media Analysis, Deviance, Adolescent females, Grounded Theory 3 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Andrew Welsh and my second reader Dr. Thomas Fleming for their ongoing support, intellectual encouragement, and guidance. I would also like to thank Dr. Christopher Schneider for agreeing to be my external examiner. Dr. Andrew Welsh, I am forever thankful for your positivity, guidance, and wealth of knowledge on popular culture and the media, which greatly influenced the direction of my dissertation. Dr. Thomas Fleming, words cannot express my gratitude towards you and your family for your constant support throughout my years at Laurier Brantford. I cannot thank you enough for supporting me throughout the completion of my master’s program. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Anthony Christensen for taking time helping me to understand the Canadian graduate student experience. Dr. James Cairns, for the thought provoking conversations, encouragement, and support. Dr. Priscilla Medeiros, words cannot capture our thirteen years of friendship. Your positive outlook on life has encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Dr. Carrie B. Sanders, you have taken me under your wing and have provided me with several unique, challenging, and rewarding learning experiences. You have given me valuable insights on life that have enabled me to grow and flourish as a researcher. Secondly I would like to thank my colleague Dr. Tim Wykes, for giving me a shoulder to cry on when I needed it the most. Your “beautiful mind” will not be forgotten. And to my husband, your calming presence inspired me to never lose hope during my darkest moments. Without you, I would not have been able to “get back up and do it again”. I especially would like 4 to thank the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for funding this research project. I would like to especially thank my family for believing in me. Mamá, gracias por alentar mi pasión y enseñarme a nunca dejar de aprender. Papá, siempre vas a ser mi héroe mi motivación y mi inspiración. Michelle, gracias por siempre tener mi espalda! ¿Qué haría yo sin ti? Finally, a special thanks goes out to my cat Sphinx for keeping me company until the wee hours of the morning, for always keeping me on task, and for our late night games of sticky note/bottle cap fetch. That provided me with nights of laughter and lasting memories 5 Table of Contents Twerking, Alcohol, and Fame: The Construction of Disney Celebrities in the Media ............... 1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 3 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 9 The Social Problem: Female Disney Celebrities in the Media .......................................................... 9 Research Questions, Key Concepts, and Insights ............................................................................... 10 Chapter Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2: Theoretical Underpinnings ...................................................................................... 13 Social Construction of Gender and Gender Norms ............................................................................ 14 Gender Norms as Social Control ............................................................................................................... 17 Typifications and Social Problems Work .............................................................................................. 18 Social Problems Game: Claims-Makers & Audiences ........................................................................ 19 Constructing Social Problems and Moral Panics ................................................................................ 21 From Social Problems to Moral Panic: Ownership and Application in the Media ................... 24 The Rise of Celebrity Culture: Popular Culture, the Media, and Female Criminality as a Social Problem ............................................................................................................................................... 26 Celebrity Culture: An Imagined Community ...................................................................................................... 27 Constructing Female Criminality and Deviance in the Media ................................................................... 28 The Female Offender and the Media ..................................................................................................................... 29 Female Celebrity Deviance ........................................................................................................................................ 30 The Cultural Shift: Constructing Emerging Celebrities in the Media ...................................................... 32 Chapter 3: Methodology .................................................................................................................. 36 Research Goals and Questions ................................................................................................................................. 36 Research Methods ......................................................................................................................................................... 37 SamPle Population ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 Primary Media Data Collection ................................................................................................................. 39 NewsPaPers ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Secondary Media Data Collection ............................................................................................................ 42 NewsPaPers ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Data Analysis: Employing Reconstructed Grounded Theory ........................................................ 44 ConcePt MaPPing and Analytical Memoing .......................................................................................................