Identity games on the screen: analysis of the films"Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" in the context of Judith Butler'stheory of gender performativity

The concept of gender exposes individuals to specific norms and forces them to think within the framework of binary oppositions, such as male-female and nature-culture. These norms impose particular identities and gender forms on individuals, leading those who do not conform to these norms to face the threat of isolation, marginalization, or even exclusion from society. This study discusses the artificiality of genders and the roles and norms associated with them, arguing that these are socially constructed and unnatural categories. Additionally, the primary aim of the study is to understand how mainstream cinema functions as another sphere of influence on gender. The films "Barbie" (2023) and "Oppenheimer" (2023) have been selected as case studies to explore how mainstream cinema shapes and questions gender norms. By evaluating the impacts of mainstream cinema on gender perceptions, the study offers a comprehensive perspective on whether these norms are reinforced or transformed in society. The research hypotheses include the reflection and imposition of gender roles in mainstream cinema, the mainstream cinema's legitimization of hegemonic masculinity prevailing in society, the presence of a male-dominated perspective in the film "Oppenheimer", the aim of feminist manifesto in the film "Barbie", and the portrayal of LGBTQ+ roles in the film "Barbie". Through text analysis, these hypotheses are examined in detail, focusing on the films in question. In conclusion, it is observed that mainstream cinema has a significant impact on gender norms and serves as a powerful tool for either reproducing or questioning these norms.