Impact of Covid-19 on Over the Top’s Algorithm to Sustain Representation of Heroine’s Journey in Film

Film Department, School of Design, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia 11480

^* Corresponding author: devina.sofiyanti@binus.ac.id

Abstract

Heroine’s Journey was born because Hero’s Journey was too patriarchal or masculine. Despite the fact that Hero’s Journey can be applied to a female protagonist, some female psychologists believe that a female protagonist cannot be compared to a male protagonist because the story does not depict what happens to a woman who embarks on a journey (Campbell 1949). Female characters are said to develop uniquely. These differences contribute to psychological variability in how men and women respond to story conflicts. According to Sustainable Development Goals number 5, it is urgent to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Due to Pandemic Covid-19, Over the Top (OTT) streaming platforms rose globally and shifting the streaming landscape. OTT is a video-on-demand service that provides streaming material as a single product and allows people to access content on numerous devices. With the emergence of technological influence, OTT platforms rely on algorithms and critical data to connect a film with its audience. This paper discusses the critical role of algorithms in shaping the Heroine’s Journey and increasing demand for films with female protagonists to sustain women’s representation in film.