Existential Feminism in Priscilla: Patriarchy, Identity, and The Making of “the Other”

Abstract

Patriarchy systematically constructs women’s identities through control and subjugation, often reducing them to “the Other” or a secondary figure defined by men. This research applies existential feminist theory to analyze Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla (2023), focusing on how patriarchal systems fabricate the identity of the female subject as “the Other,” a subordinate figure defined by men. The research investigates how the film portrays Priscilla’s character and transformation from a passive figure into a selfaware individual who reclaims her identity, exploring how systems enforce power, identity, and gender roles. Findings suggest that the film visualizes Priscilla’s internal and external conflicts in the context of love and fame under Elvis Presley’s dominance, utilizing narrative to critique forms of systemic othering while opening a space for female subjectivity and resistance. Positioning the film within feminist discourse, this research challenges patriarchal ideologies that marginalize women and instead foregrounds identity as a site of performance and resistance.