READING GENDER THROUGH IMAGES: A MULTIMODAL AND PERFORMATIVE ANALYSIS OF MATERIALISTS

Abstract

This paper explores how gender identities are created and conveyed in the American movie Materialists, based on a multimodal discourse analysis. Making use of the social semiotic system proposed by Kress and van Leeuwen, Gender Performativity by Judith Butler, the analysis evaluates how visual images, camera work, color, gestures, sound, and dialogue can play a role in gender meaning-making. The study points out the important multimodal elements that define masculinity and femininity representations and determines whether the movie reinforces or challenges gender stereotypes, as was the case in previous Hollywood movies. Importantly chosen scenes were evaluated to observe how the characters perform gender roles with repeated actions, body language, and even their choice of aesthetics. The results reveal that although Materialists depict some contemporary and balanced images, especially in scenes where emotional reciprocity and mutual decision-making could be observed, numerous multimodal signals repeat classic gender constructs, especially through material consumption, career role, and dominance. The research is relevant to the study of the media and gender by showing the interplay of multimodal resources in supporting or transforming gender ideologies in modern cinema.