Queens: Re-inventing Matriarchal Myth in Contemporary Media
Abstract
This essay examines the 2024 animal documentary Queens through a feminist lens. Against the backdrop of traditional storytelling dominated by androcentric perspectives, feminist scholars have long advocated for the creation of female-centered narratives to reclaim agency and challenge gendered norms. As both an educational and artistic work, Queens contributes to the practice of gynocentric storytelling in contemporary media. By showcasing matriarchal societies across various animal species, the documentary provides a narrative centered on female perspectives. This essay analyzes how the stories in Queens celebrate the power and qualities of femininity through the portrayal of anthropomorphic animal characters and female animal workers in real life. It also compares the narration of Queens with that of other wildlife documentaries and examines the Chinese translation to illustrate how language constructs female subjectivity. Finally, the essay identifies unresolved issues and controversies within the documentary and proposes directions for future feminist creators to advance matriarchal narratives further.
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