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Abstract
This thesis examines the effectiveness of popular culture's interpretation of third wave feminist thought. It places a particular focus on the genre of "Shakesteen" films made popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which adapted Shakespearean plays for American teen audiences. Within that focus, this thesis discusses the celebrity personae of two women whose careers were furthered by Shakesteen roles: Julia Stiles and Amanda Bynes. Ultimately, it seeks to determine whether it is possible to portray a political movement in a way that is culturally palatable without compromising the goals of that movement.