#EvilBoobs: A Case Study of the Evil Queen’s Cleavage in Once Upon a Time and its Female Fans

Abstract

In ABC’s series Once Upon a Time, the Evil Queen is defined in part by her prominent cleavage. Her cleavage exemplifies a trope that I refer to as “evil boobs.” This thesis aims to establish the “evil boobs” trope in academic discourse. More specifically, it aims to explore how the Evil Queen’s cleavage functions for female spectators. The Evil Queen is popular with female fans on social networking websites, and the Evil Queen’s prominent cleavage receives significant attention from those fans. So, while this thesis first addresses how the Evil Queen’s “evil boobs” pander to the male gaze, it then turns to the female fans and offers a close reading of the recorded texts of this female fandom. This thesis advances a relevant interpretation of the Evil Queen and her “evil boobs” as an empowering feminine ideal—a reading informed by online research into female fan practices and female pleasure.