Judith Butler question

Evaluate the usefulness of Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity in understanding LFTVD [10 MARKS]

Plan:
 Judith Butler- gender performativity= nobody is a gender from the start, our behaviour creates it- feminine and masculine actions/looks
Representations that disrupt heteronormativity

• Eleven being mistaken as a boy, because she hasnt been taught to perform like a girl
• Will being called queer
• Role of Mrs Wheeler vs Mr Wheeler- hetro-normative, but troubled
• Differences between sarah lund and Jan meyer, despite having identical roles 
• Theis vs pernille

ST

±Which characters’ performance of gender roles conform to social expectations?Nancy Wheeler, Mrs Wheeler, Mike, Lucas, Steve 

±Which characters challenge normative gender roles? Eleven, Will, Joyce?

±Are characters treated differently based on how they perform gender roles? yes- will gets bullied, mike treats eleven with respect whereas others (the lab) treat her harshly, Hop doesn't 'care' about Joyce's missing son Will at first.

-TK

±Which characters’ performance of gender roles conform to social expectations? Trolls Hartmann, Police management, Theis and Pernille, Jan Meyer (at start)

±Which characters challenge normative gender roles? Sarah Lund, Pernille (doesn't look for nanna or check if she was actually at Lisa's house).

±Are characters treated differently based on how they perform gender roles? The police may have a problem with women being different- women are taking on their roles. The police don't think Sarah would be able to cure the investigation

Answer:

       Butlers Theory of Gender Performativity argues that we don't have a 'set' gender from being born, that our actions and performance determines our gender as we live our lives. She also argues that society have fixed stereotypes between being male and female, which isn't true and that we can disrupt hetronormativity.

       Butler's Theory is very useful and evident in Stranger Things through the way the characters are presented to act, such as Will Byers and Eleven. In the first episode, the theory can be both challenged and matched with. For example, Mike Wheeler is represented as masculine and boy-ish through the choice of his words, actions and appearance, whereas Will Byers is bullied for being 'queer' by his school mates. It is evident that Will appears 'different' from the rest by having a soft-spoken pitched voice, being intelligent and responsible and ultimately this disrupts the idea of heteronormativity. Nancy Wheeler matches with society's idea about feminism and having female traits, through the way she has a high school romance with Steve Harrington( who also challenges the theory through his masculine character), the sweet voice, clothes (skirts etc) and the 'perfect' school grades, she is challenging Butlers theory by being feminine from the start and living in the stereotypes of society. Eleven, again challenges this stereotype and she is mistaken as a boy because she isnt feminine or acts like a girl. We can see this through her shaven head, boy-ish T-Shirt and the lack of communication she brings. However, later on in the episode she gets dressed up as a girl by the help of the boys, wearing a pink dress and a blonde wig, to which Mike calls her 'pretty'. This is a huge contrast to the way she was previously represented as. Eleven isn't sure about this new change, and takes the wig off at the end.Eleven shows us that Femininity can be restricting and awful when thrust upon this, linking with Butlers theory that our actions portray our gender. Hetro-normative is challenged through Mrs Wheeler and Mr Wheeler's relationship- they are fitting in with the heterosexual stereotype in which society conveys, however its troubled, and distant, identifying that not everyone in society is heterosexual, and its just a stereotype that society plays around with.

       Butler's theory can also be applied to the Killing. In the first episode, it reflects contested gender relations. The police management and male politicians are male, reinforcing masculinity and patriarchal power, however the narrative follows a female protagonist (Sarah Lund), who's profession follows as a stereotypical masculine one: a police detective. We can identify the female power Lund brings to the work force whose efficacy is foregrounded by her male colleague, Jan Meyer who at first appears strong and independent, but later on appears boyishness and is willing to give up with the investigation of Nanna Birk Larsen, therefore, they contrast against each other doing the same profession. This could link to the police having a problem with Sarah being different than other females as she is taken over their jobs. We can see the men are being jokey where they play a prank on Lund at the start of the first episode, when she is due to leave for Sweden, implying a dominant male workforce and she is the only female. Butlers theory links with Lund as she her performance gives her male characteristics. Theis and Pernille Birk Larsen are a compatible couple, who are equal and partners, however it is Theis who goes out and looks for Nanna, while Pernille stays at home. Although she is a loving character, she lacks the traits of a caring and sometimes concerned mother- she doesn't check to see if Nanna has gone to stay at Lisa's or if she came home, instead she isolates herself and is caught up in her relationship with her husband. Butler's gender theory is accepted and challenged, like in stranger Things. We think Sarah Lund is feminine at the start, where she is affectionate towards her boyfriend, but its reversed as the episode goes on and the stereotype is challenged.

       To conclude, Butlers theory may be challenged and accepted in both media texts, however i think it is more evident in The Killing for the femininity side of it, for example, Sarah Lund being more masculine than feminine because of her representation and performance, but in Stranger Things, butlers theory is  key part of the gender roles and heteronormativity in the episode, with Will and Eleven being treated differently and acting different than the 'stereotypical' characters like Steve and Nancy. Using this theory in the media industry, helps bring down a divide which is shown in society that you are either masculine or feminine, depending on the way you were born. Its a very socialist theory which a lot of media texts ignore, and use society's stereotypical representations of male and female characters, where it isn't diversified, and rather traditional.