Analysis of Gender Identity Expressed in the Movie <The Danish Girl> based on Judith Butler’s Gender Theory

Abstract

<The Danish Girl> is based on a true story of the first transgender individual. It portrays psychological changes visually during the protagonist's confusion with self-identity based on gender. This study analyzes gender identity in contemporary fashion intensively based on gender images and costumes appearing in the film <The Danish Girl>. In the society lacking a fixed gender image, this study provides a timely insight into gender identities by analyzing the fashions depicted in the movie. The movie is a true story of the first transgender person working hard to determine his or her own gender identity. As a research method, the theoretical basis of genderless approach was established via literature review. The characteristics of genderless identity were determined by dividing the movie into established and ambiguous gender periods to analyze the comprehensive changes in costumes for comparison. Einer Wagner representing male identity portrays men's fashion whereas Lily Elbe representing female identity depicts women's fashion. While the two different genders find their places in a single body, the confusion creates genderless fashion. By dividing these phases into femininity, masculinity and genderless categories, each costume was analyzed comprehensively, and the images of relatively changing fashion were studied by altering the gender identity. Four characteristics including androgyne, rebellion, pleasure and balance were derived from the gender identity based on Fashion in <The Danish Girl>.