"Forma ex Machina" Fashioning Gender, Control, and Identity in the Representation of Female Robots in Science Fiction

This article explores the intersection of fashion, gender, control, and technology in the representation of female robots in science fiction. Through an analysis of iconic films such as Metropolis, The Stepford Wives, Blade Runner, and the series Better than Us, the research examines how fashion is utilized to convey deeper issues of gender performativity, domination, and the fluidity of identity. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from Jean Baudrillard and Judith Butler, the article argues that these representations serve not merely as aesthetic choices but as critical commentaries on the role of technology in shaping human identities and societal norms. By analyzing the hyperreal simulacra of these robotic figures and their subversive performances of gender, the article highlights the complexities of robot-human interaction and the implications of intimate technologies in a world where the boundaries between the real and artificial are increasingly blurred. The discussion ultimately underscores the power of fashion in these fictional narratives as a tool for both reinforcing and challenging traditional structures of power and identity.