Performing Masculinity Through Sound: A Critical Analysis of Gender Performativity in the Top Gun Franchise

Abstract

Contemporary cinema represents a varied and complex depiction of gender through its form, and one of the untouched terrains is gendered soundscapes and the performance of masculinity in films. To make these particular representations more vivid and deal with clarity, the study focuses on the popular movie franchises Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022) in understanding the transition from sonic dominance to vulnerable masculinities in both these films. The research questions the notion of gendered sounds, masculinity and gender performativity in both these films as a case study and aims to conceptualise the gendered sound in terms of their diegetic and non-diegetic typification. It investigates the ways in which power dynamics appear in male encounters and how sounds are gendered and reveal how this affects the conventional male norms which are reinforced and challenged. Through a qualitative content analysis, this research identifies recurring themes and performative elements that shape the portrayal of masculinity and sheds light on the complex interplay of power relations and their influence on the construction of male identities. Furthermore, this research investigates the auditory dimension of masculinity by examining how sounds are gendered within societal contexts, with the theoretical framework resting on Foucault's theory of power and Butler's theory of gender performativity.