Selling the Third Wave: Lilith’s Legend and Commodified Feminism in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Abstract

This thesis examines the commodification of feminist discourse in popular media, specifically the representation of the mythological creature Lilith, alongside popular feminist ideals, in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (CAOS). It explores the evolution of the infamous she-demon Lilith and discusses her appearances in a myriad of historical texts to lay the groundwork for the analysis of her characterisation in CAOS. This thesis also contextualises socio-feminist discourses and discusses anti-feminist tropes present within the series, ultimately arguing that the misrepresentation of the feminist movement is not limited to Lilith’s simplification, but is instead a structural problem within CAOS.