Monstrosities and Normalization

A Foucauldian Analysis of Marginalized Identities in "Poor Things"

Abstract

This article analyzes the film Poor Things (2023), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, through the lens of Michel Foucault's theories on abnormality and monstrosity. The objective is to explore how these media representations impact the formation of subjectivities and the dynamics of power/knowledge in contemporary society. Foucault dedicated himself to studying the mechanisms of power that define and marginalize the "abnormal," revealing how society constructs and reinforces standards of normality. Through a literature review and content and critical analysis, the study examines how the film critiques the institutions that impose norms, highlighting the character of Bella Baxter as a symbol of resistance and a quest for autonomy. Bella challenges Victorian social norms and imposed behavioral standards, promoting a view of abnormality as an act of liberation. The article concludes that Poor Things uses the concept of monstrosity to question social norms and the mechanisms of control that shape identities, contributing to debates on media, philosophy, and gender studies.