Chromatics and Staged Smiles: Diversity and Double Standards by the Numbers
摘要
This chapter examines 628 Hallmark film posters from 2015 to 2023, determining whether the homogeneity exhibited in Christmas movie posters, as stated by Mustafa Gatollari in his 2020 essay, applies to all Hallmark films. The chapter also looks at how the posters promote or challenge existing standards of heteronormativity and the gender binary. The study divides the investigation into two time periods (2015–2020 and 2021–2023), and discovers a high level of visual consistency, with modest adjustments toward diversity and inclusivity. Despite some progress, such as increasing visibility for performers of color and the inclusion of LGBTQ couples, the posters tend to reinforce traditional gender norms and lack character connection. This trend, combined with an increasing emphasis on subtitles for engagement, exemplifies Hallmark’s careful approach to changing societal dynamics through visual marketing. The findings add to broader discussions about how popular media visually depicts societal ideals, notably gender and diversity.