Judith Butler - theories surrounding gender performance and gender performativity

 Judith butler, states that sex and gender are not the same and they have different meanings 

  • sex is a biological marker based upon chromosomical difference and anatomical difference, assigned at birth
  • gender is fluid, is a cultural marker, butler argues that our gender is constructed through the repetition and ritual of certain actions
  • gender is fluid and our gendered performance is always changing 
  • performance - something that we do to appear a certain way
  • butler argues that our gender is always changing and it is not fixed and the ways in which we act and our sexual preferences shift throughput your life. our gender is constructed through repeated actions
  • for butler gender is policed, suppressed and challenged by heteronormative and hegemonic actions that affect our lives everyday
  • gender performativity is how our gender affects the world around us 

ritualistic actions that people do to contribute to their gender identity:

  • dressing in specific clothes
  • going to the barbers / hairdressers
  • young children playing with dolls or / cars etc
  • doing makeup / wearing no makeup

How is gender constructed through performance in the ‘dressing up’ sequence’ in San Junipero

  • Judith Butler argues that gender is constructed through a range of repeated rituals that we carry out every day. This concept is fundamentally important to understanding the complex representation sod gender found in san Junipero. ex. in the dressing up sequence yoriki is dressing up to impress Kelly, a classic montage is presented to audiences to communicate that yoriki is both sexually interested in Kelly and is trying to impress her.
  • the mes in this scene combines a warm colour palette with a montage of close up shots that save to present a 
  • flattering and alluring set of images for the target audience an the target audience yes in the narrative. additionally the bare light bulbs on her vanity function as a symbolic code for the theatre and suggest that she is far from being herself and is engaging in a performance which links to Judith butler's theory.
  • an example of Yorkers performance is anchored by her actions and body language ex. she bites her lip in close up while looking at her reflection. by addressing her self directly York is symbolically expressing her identity and drawing attention to a polysemic mode of dress but also linking to butlers theory that gender is complex and ever changing.
  • in the second cut she emphasises her body, expression g t6hat her femininity is defined by her feminine figure, this combines gender identity and sexuality, indicating that she is exploring her identity, linking to the idea that gender and its performance is highly complex
  • Judith Butler argues that gender is not fixed but fluid, and is constructed through repetitive and ritualistic actions. A perfect example of this idea of gender as performance can be found in the scene where Yorkie dresses in order to be as attractive as possible for Kelly. Throughout this montage, which will be instantly identifiable to the target audience through the process of intertextual relay, Yorkie takes on the role of a character from The Breakfast Club, biting her lip in a symbolically sexually alluring way while staring at herself in the mirror. The MES of Yorkie’s eyes constructs a polysemic system of interpretations for the target audience, allowing them to negotiate Yorkie as either wide eyed and innocent or sexually suggestive. This highly contradictory combination of media language suggests that gender is a complex concept. This suggests the ideology of the producer is to challenge simple and straightforward representations of gender, but also we see Butler’s theory being particularly useful when it comes to understanding the complexities of gender 
  • The scene also demonstrates that gender is fluid, to such an extent that Yorkie adapts many different gender identities in just a minute long sequence
evaluate Judith Butlers theory of gender performativity in reference o black mirror (sex scene)

  • It is suggested gender performance, the acts which construct our gender, change dramatically depending on contextual factors such as setting and time. an excellent example of this would be the sex scene that occurs towards the start of the narrative in SJ.

  • Both Yorkie and Kelley to associated stereotypes of femininity, which may challenge more stereotypical representations of lesbian couples in media. While characters present as somewhat stereotypically feminine, with both characters being hegemonically attractive, both Kelley and Yorkie perform their gender in subtly different ways. 

  • The MES of Yorkie’s costume is subtly masculine. Her shorts, jumper and glasses all combine to create a more reserved and passive presentation of femininity.

  • Conversely Kelly is more stereotypically feminine, with the MES of more overt makeup and feminine costume, , yet the assertive way that Kelly both initiates sex, and the composition of the mid shot with Kelly assertively being on top of Yorke is more stereotypically masculine.

  • Butler argues that our performance of gender is complex. this is further reinforced through the complex way that Kelly initiates sex with yoriki. a mid shot emphasises Kelly's seductive expression which functions as a proairetic code, suggesting an imminent sexual encounter. Kelly's seductive look also presents an intertextual relay, that helps audience members to understand that Kelly is performing gender in a stereotypical, yet also complex manner.

  • Additionally, Kelley also uses her gender performatively, and uses her sexuality to end a difficult conversation with Yorkie.

  • The MES of Yorkie’s glasses during the sex scene also suggests Yorkie’s naivety and lack of experience.

24

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Identity and Attitude online / stereotypical represnetations

  Identity: how can gay men use this article to construct their own identity? While the story features the cancer diagnosis of a straight woman, there are elements to this narrative which may appeal to gay male audiences, and even allow them to pick and mix certain ideologically perspectives.  The ‘dissapearance’ of Kate Middleton prompted wiodespread moral panic, and the story fuelled many conspiracy theories.  Stereotypically , gay men are perceived to enjoy gossip, and there are elements of gay subcul;ture which are based around bitchiness and gossiping. This therefore may appeal to certain gay audiences The target audience are British , and working class. Therefore by featuring this storing, the potentially patriotic working class audience can be targeted Gay audiences may identify with Middleton , as her life has been scrutinised and there have been many theories as to her true nature and to the nature of her illness. This unwelcome attention may unfortunately be f...
Read more

the radio industry/ reguation/ audience in relation to have you heard Georges podcast

 Ofcom regulates the radio in the UK does have you heard George's podcast breach Andy regulatory rules by Ofcom Ofcom states that: Ensure: ensure a wide range of services and a wide  appeal is available. maintain: maintain a plurality in broadcasting protect: Protect audiences from offensive or harmful material protect: protect audiences against unfairness or infringement of privacy Have you heard Georges podcast doesn't breach any of Ofcoms regulatory rules there is no material in this podcast which is likely to harm or offend audiences the podcast names public figures yet this isn't infringing on their privacy who is the target audience for have you heard Georges podcast? directly addressing the audience, are positioned in the plosive pf him  a he says 'imagine you are.. etc' targets young people could be trying to appeal to young black individuals / people who share a similar upbringing to him also appeals to educated audiences as he is covering political topics,...
Read more

Zoe Sugg video analysis

Image
  Zoe Sugg video analysis: Huge Summer Primark Haul   The thumbnail image preview for this video uses anchorage to perfectly encapsulate the joy of a consumerist lifestyle. The combination of Sugg's performatively winning smile, the mildly sexual connotations of her costume, and the further reinforcement of the proairetic potentiality of the mise-en-scene of her bulging Primark back serves to construct a representation of  commodity as fetish. This frenzied unwrapping and revealing of commodities constructs a rapid-fire montage dopamine hit for her then younger and potentially more vulnerable target audiences Zoe Sugg, here in her Zoella persona/character ostensibly ‘reviews’ a range of jewellery and later clothes from the affordable height street fashion giant Primark. Popular with British working class women, the inclusion of Primark merchandise allows Sugg appeal to a larger and also more targeted audience . However, this working class mode of address is clearly at odd...
Read more