Pretty Little Liars: social representations and stereotypes in a serial narrative

• Grant number: 14/09976-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Communications - Visual Communication
• Principal Investigator: Josette Maria Alves de Souza Monzani
• Grantee: Lucas Godoy de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to conduct a thematic-stylistic analysis of the Pretty Little Liars series, created by Marlene King and launched in 2010. The series covers the lives of five friends: Aria, Hannah, Emily, Spencer and Alison and the anonymous threats that lead protagonists to live dangerous situations after the disappearing of one of the girls. The objective of this work is to analyze the way in which the themes instigate the curiosity of the audience, bringing the series to ensuring audience and solidifying a fan base in Brazil. Still in the analysis of factors which have some influence on the audience it is going to be considered the narrative clichés, the stereotyped characters and the sponsorships that mark this serial narrative. From controversial topics present in the reality of Brazilian adolescents, such as cyberbullying and homosexuality, this project also seeks to understand how these issues addressed by the series hit the Brazilian society.