Constructed and

Deconstructed
Masculinities: game
of Thrones

Game of Thrones
What it is: a medieval fantasy drama (HBO) adapted from A
Song of Ice and Fire
Concerning the struggle for a kingdom, vast web of
characters/identities, intensely performative in all respects,
discussions of face, roles, etc., including concerning gender.
Active and violent lives of males result in physical and psychic
wounding: castration, amputation, paralysis,
Massive critical and popular success.

Theories
Gender performativity (Butler 1990, 1993)
Dis/ability studies (esp. Gershick and Miller 1994; Shakespeare
1999; Shuttleworth et al. 2012)
Objective: to demonstrate the opening of gaps between
gender performance and bodies, with the possibilities of new
identity formations

Performativity (Butler 1990; 1993): the concept that gender is

not inherent, but created and solidified through citation of an
archive, always capable of destabilization.
Conflict of masculinity performativity and dis/ability as socially
defined (Shakespeare 1999):

The social definition of masculinity is inextricably bound with a

celebration of strength, [] to be masculine is not to be
vulnerable. It is also linked to a celebration of youth and of
taking bodily functions for granted (Morris 1991, p. 93)
The constitution of masculinity through bodily performance
means that gender is vulnerable when the performance cannot
be sustainedfor instance, as a result of physical disability
( Connell 1995, p. 54)
Much work following from this is sociological

Stimulus: do you fear my

gash?

Responses with possibility

Gershick and Miller (1994): 3 kinds
of response to impairment
proposed: Reliance, Reformulation,
Rejection.
No one person ever performs one
purely: always a mixture.

Jaime Lannister: hegemonic

perfomativity,
though conscious and cynical split
between public and private perfor
manc
e.
Symbolic castration (amputation
of sword hand in adulthood, c.f. I
was that hand)

Possibility of reformation/re-negotiation? (
revelation of secret/weakness/investment of trust).

BUT - Remains primarily dependent on said model judgement of

self/others in relation- abjection/despondency leading to.(double
murder of twin/self?)

Reliance/reformulation
2: Tyrion performative
Lannister (dwarfism,
from birth)
One
of the most consciously
character
in series,
though dependent on negotiated hegemonic scripts

From reformulation to
reliance?

Responses to Impairment 3:
Rejection
Rejection?? Bran Stark (paralysis in youth) and Lord
Varys (castration in youth gaps??)

Rejection
Initial reliance - Id rather be dead life in which masculinity
cannot be perfomed is not worth living then reformation as
warg genuine identification with Other including animals.

Rejection 2: Lord Varys

conscious performativity

References
Butler, J. 1990. Gender trouble. NY and London: Routledge.
- 1993. Bodies that matter. NY and London: Routledge.
Connell, R. W. 1995. Masculinities. Cambridge: Polity.
Gerschick, T., and Miller, A. 1994. Gender Identities at the Crossroads of
Masculinity and Physical Disability. Masculinities 2:3455.
Morris, J. 1991. Pride against prejudice: transforming attitudes to disability.
London: Womens Press.
Shakespeare, T. 1999. The Sexual Politics of Disabled Masculinity.
Sexuality and Disability 17:5364
Shuttleworth, R., et al.2012. The Dilemma of Disabled Masculinity. Men
and Masculinities 15(2): 74-194.
Tepper, M.2001. Lived Experiences that Impede or Facilitate Sexual
Pleasure and Orgasm in People with Spinal Cord Injury. Unpublished
doctoral thesis, Education, University of Pennsylvania