Black Mirror
Gender performativity - being treated differently based on your gender
- e.g a woman going to a car garage and having everything mansplained or being talked down to in a condescending way
Sex scene - doesn't actually explicitly show the sex, just the before and after
Point
Evidence
Analysis
Judith Butler argues that our performance of gender has an explicit effect on the
world around us. Evaluate this theory of gender performativity with reference to the Black Mirror episode San Junipero (15 marks)
- it is suggested that gender performance, the acts which construct our gender, change dramatically depending on contextual factors such as setting and time
- an excellent example of this can be found in the sex scene that occurs towards the start of the narrative in San Junipero
- both Yorkie and Kelly to associate stereotypes of femininity, which may challenge more stereotypical representations of lesbian couples
- while both characters present as somewhat stereotypically feminine, with both characters being hegemonically attractive, both Kelly 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 midshot with Kelly assertively being on top of Yorkie 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 Yorkie
- a mid shot emphasises Kelly's seductive expression, functioning as a proairetic code and 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, Kelly 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
- is the sex scene needed? I say yes - helps show the intensity of their relationship
Audience Perspectives
Audience is the people who view the media text
An active audience is one who engages with the media text (e.g have feelings towards a media product)
A passive audience is one who do not engage with the media text (e.g do not have feelings for or against a product)
Propaganda - a tool which is used to shape the ideology of the audience
Demographics - type of categories of people (e.g teenagers)
Psychographics - categorising an audience based on their beliefs and personalities
Mass audience - a large audience
Niche audience - a small audience
This episode would not have worked in 1940 due to the audience perspectives. These have changed now
- being gay is accepted
- the ideas of the afterlife are different
- audiences are less perspective
- ideas of deviance have changed
Audience targeting - an intended audience or readership of publication, advertisement or other message catered specifically to said intended audience
Audience positioning - where the audience is placed by a media product; where the audience receives, reads and responds to a text
Fandom - specific group of audience which makes you dedicated to a media product
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