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“Because us weirdos stick together”: A critical discourse analysis of representations of “weirdness” and kinship in Disney's animated kids tv-series The Owl House

Höglund, Nilla LU (2026) GNVK22 20261
Gender Studies
Abstract
This thesis examines the discourses and experiences of what it means to be “weird” through representation of the phenomenon in the popular Disney kid’s cartoon The Owl House. By following Fairclough’s five-step model and theoretical framework for critical discourse analysis, the analysis reveals that discourses within the fictional world are woven around a tightly hegemonic system of ideology and identity formation, which works to exclude denizens who do not “fit in”. The analysis mainly utilizes Stuart Hall’s understanding of stereotypes and hegemony, Foucault's panopticism, and bell hooks discussions of othering and kinship that characters in The Owl House who experience these exclusions are then drawn to one another, forming new bonds... (More)
This thesis examines the discourses and experiences of what it means to be “weird” through representation of the phenomenon in the popular Disney kid’s cartoon The Owl House. By following Fairclough’s five-step model and theoretical framework for critical discourse analysis, the analysis reveals that discourses within the fictional world are woven around a tightly hegemonic system of ideology and identity formation, which works to exclude denizens who do not “fit in”. The analysis mainly utilizes Stuart Hall’s understanding of stereotypes and hegemony, Foucault's panopticism, and bell hooks discussions of othering and kinship that characters in The Owl House who experience these exclusions are then drawn to one another, forming new bonds of kinship, and are able to, despite the othering they have faced, resist the oppressive power system together. The results chapter concludes that representations of “weirdness” in The Owl House are linked to practices of othering though stereotypes that are encouraged in the fictional society. The response of kinship then becomes an act of counterhegemonic rebellion. Additionally, the thesis discusses what it means for a markedly progressive show like The Owl House to still engage with topics that have otherwise been neutralized as too controversial for Disney. (Less)
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author
Höglund, Nilla LU
supervisor
organization
course
GNVK22 20261
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Othering, Kinship, Hegemony, Critical Discourse Analysis, The Owl House, Disney
language
English
id
9242742
date added to LUP
2026-06-23 08:31:49
date last changed
2026-06-23 08:31:49
@misc{9242742,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the discourses and experiences of what it means to be “weird” through representation of the phenomenon in the popular Disney kid’s cartoon The Owl House. By following Fairclough’s five-step model and theoretical framework for critical discourse analysis, the analysis reveals that discourses within the fictional world are woven around a tightly hegemonic system of ideology and identity formation, which works to exclude denizens who do not “fit in”. The analysis mainly utilizes Stuart Hall’s understanding of stereotypes and hegemony, Foucault's panopticism, and bell hooks discussions of othering and kinship that characters in The Owl House who experience these exclusions are then drawn to one another, forming new bonds of kinship, and are able to, despite the othering they have faced, resist the oppressive power system together. The results chapter concludes that representations of “weirdness” in The Owl House are linked to practices of othering though stereotypes that are encouraged in the fictional society. The response of kinship then becomes an act of counterhegemonic rebellion. Additionally, the thesis discusses what it means for a markedly progressive show like The Owl House to still engage with topics that have otherwise been neutralized as too controversial for Disney.}},
  author       = {{Höglund, Nilla}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{“Because us weirdos stick together”: A critical discourse analysis of representations of “weirdness” and kinship in Disney's animated kids tv-series The Owl House}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}