Post-Feminism and Idealization of Female Heroines in Contemporary Chinese Cinema—Deng Chanyu in Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force

Abstract

With the development of feminist discourse and the modernization of society, the portrayal of female images in Chinese cinema has undergone significant transformations. These characters are becoming increasingly diverse, embodying distinct forms of “female power.” In recent years, as the global expansion of post-feminism through neoliberalism has gained widespread dissemination, the idealized female images constructed within it have assumed an increasingly prominent position in media. A notable example is the portrayal of Deng Chanyu, a strong and independent female heroine in Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force (2025), whose depiction has sparked extensive attention and discussion among audiences since the film’s release. This study takes Deng Chanyu as a case study, employing an interdisciplinary approach and film textual analysis to deconstruct the idealized female heroines in the film. It argues that the contradictions and complexities of post-feminism in China’s social development, as depicted in the film, highlight the challenges currently faced by gender discourse in Chinese society. Furthermore, assessing the successes and shortcomings of idealized female images characterization provides significant implications for the rational construction of female representation in cinema.