Key theory 10 - Judith Butler - theories of gender performativity

Key theory 10 - Judith Butler - theories of gender performativity 


  • Identity is a performance, and it is contructed through a series of acts and expressions that we perform every day.
  • While there are biological differences dictated by sex, our gender is defined through this series of acts. These may include the ways we walk, talk, dress and so on.
  • Therefore, there is no gender identity behind these expressions of gender.

Representation of Synths:

  • The salesman is male - selling a woman - as are the corporate figures who dictate their use.
  • The majority of the ethnic are synths (servants) emphasizing Stuart Hall's notion of the black 'slave' stereotype. This is particularly apt when looking at Anita in the home and Fred when picking fruit (overtones of cotton-picking slaves). Anita conforms to the racial stereotypes identified by Alvarado of "sexualized" and "exotic".
  • The altitudes of males, particularly towards Niska in the brothel - "using" women who are clearly not equal.
  • Extra reading: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11775435/Humans-Gemma-Chan-Youre-more-likely-to-see-an-alien-in-a-Hollywood-film-than-an-Asian-woman.html
  • She thinks Humans should be congratulated for the way it has tried to promote female representation and diversity – even if almost all of the non-white actors on the show play synths.
Image result for leo from humansVan Zoonen argues that the following are constructs of masculinity: Can we apply the following traits to Leo?
  • Males constructed through movement (active)
  • Leo is the active protagonist 
  • Rarely smiles or shows emotion, lacks actual human characteristics. Therefore there is a massive overlap to the belief of whether he is an actual human or actually a synth himself. 
  • Strength, muscularity  and aggression 
  • Often running, fighting etc
  • Competition - males as gladiators or combatants - the 'spectacle' conforms heterosexual stereotypes of gender roles in the film industry. 
  • A 'survivor' figure - makes the audience question what him that way.
  • Constructed more through the Intradiegetic gaze - the way they are looked at by other characters (e.g. with respect/fear) 
  • The leader figure, group rely on him as he makes the decisions. 
  • He is also a relatable figure for the audience through age, costume rather than erotic gaze. 
Humans and Simulacra?

The synths may be seen as simulacra - copies of "perfect" humans which do not exist. 
The parallel world to our own is a hyperreality - it is the present or near future represented from a mediated perspective.
It may be argued that the series itself is a comment on the attractions of the hyperreal over the real - E.g. Joe's sexual attraction to Anita. 

In postmodern culture the boundaries between the real world and the world of the media have collapsed and that it is no longer possible to distinguish between what is reality and what is simulation. In fact, it Really doesn't  matter which is which. Humans plays on this theory and makes the audience question their own ethical beliefs.

Therefore, in the postmodern age of simulacra, audiences are constantly bombarded with images which no longer refer to anything 'real' 

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