ipl-logo

Masculinity In Alien

1349 Words6 Pages

Ripley Scott’s Alien has come to be considered one of the most iconic science fiction films in the entire genre. The film has garnered critical acclaim as well as box office success for its unique blend of science fiction, horror and, visual effects. The film also contains a very insightful and captivating philosophical standpoint. Alien is not simply just a movie about humans combating an extraterrestrial threat, it is a movie about the battle between femininity and masculinity. The amalgamation of all these aspects has allowed alien to become known as one of the greatest films of all time, and ultimately what allowed the franchise to form. Of the franchise there is only one film that could be considered even greater than the first. This film …show more content…

This time however it is not just one alien but an entire colony to match this Ripley is accompanied by a squadron of marines ready to fight the imminent threat of the aliens. The addition of the marines as well as the multiplication of the aliens is just one example of Cameron’s upscale re-presentations of the first film’s elements. What he’s done is heightened the battle from a one on one battle to an all-out war between two opposing sides. In this battle humanity once again represents femininity and the aliens masculinity, and just as before humankind refuses to be subjected to the role of victim. Ripley and the marines aim to eradicate the aliens that have taken over a colony to prevent their spread throughout the universe. Mulhall sees Cameron’s decision to bring Ripley back into her nightmare as a sort of therapeutic process, this is seen when he writes the “[Cameron] proposes in short to heal both Ripley and the alien narrative universe, to cure them of what ails them” (Mulhall 60) Ripley’s return to battle is a step she must take in order to rid herself of the trauma gained from the last movie because as Mulhall states “Only by therapeutically recalling and re-experiencing her initial traumatic encounter can she locate and disable its source” (Mulhall

Show More
Related

Mise En Scene In Alien Nostromo

837 Words | 4 Pages

The main goal of every horror movie is to scare people, and the visual design in “Alien” brings chills to the viewers. The film’s visual style is a major part of its content and is central of the way the movie communicates with the audience. The mise-en-scene affects the human mind and explores the subconscious fears of the audience through a confined set, dark and gloomy atmosphere, and terrifying special effects. It all begins with the title design. The letters appear as white dismembered forms, working their way from the outside in.

Read More

Masculinity In Tough Guise II

1259 Words | 6 Pages

“Are you a girl?”, “Do not be such a wimp”, “Be a man”; have you ever heard these words uttered to you at least once in your life? Probably not if you are a girl, most definitely yes if you are a boy. As a boy grows up and enters the journey of his life, phrases that question masculinity and discarding femininity are common everyday phrases in boys’ lives. Stereotype remarks which nurture the concept of a “Man” that people know of; toxic words that come out from people’s mouth without even realizing how dangerous it is. This paper is written mainly from a man’s perspective, adhering to the concept of manliness and male role belief system being talked in the film Tough Guise II.

Read More

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Gender

645 Words | 3 Pages

A characteristic of horror films is that the antagonist is commonly a male. However, if directors were to consider gender-swapping some of these villains, and create female antagonists, the films could be much more fascinating. In particular, the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which was released in 2011, could be modified if Leatherface, the villain, was a female. If the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, was altered so that the main antagonist, Leatherface, was female, the film would be far superior, and could even be considered the greatest horror film of all time.

Read More

Gender Stereotypes In Cowboys And Aliens

1456 Words | 6 Pages

In contrast to the twentieth century we still see some of this in our current day and ages. Contrasting portrayals of men and women in films leave us with the fact that we haven’t changed. Men and women are sought to have different gender roles within

Read More

Ridley Scott Alien

756 Words | 4 Pages

Alien is a remarkable horror film that was way ahead of its generation with little to nothing to complain about. The scenery was remarkable, especially inside the space craft and egg chamber; it never failed to add to the mood of the environment. The violence, from the chestburster scene, to the crew being killed was natural and paced, not overdone and in your face. Though there were small parts that could use touch ups, like all films, there was one scene that seemed unnecessary, that being on the escape pod where Ripley was stripping down in preparation for cryonic sleep. Being the half-naked vulnerable woman with a monster trying to eat you seemed to horror cliché and that it was merely trying to broaden their appeal to the male audience, but no film is perfect and it still sits very high on my favorite movie list as well as other film critics.

Read More

Masculinity In The Film Aliens

437 Words | 2 Pages

Before they all arrive at LV-426, Ripley demonstrates her worthiness in one of the cargo-loader units by showing she manages one all by herself without needing any male assistance. By giving herself this artificial giant mechanical body, Ripley proves that she can be one of the warriors as well in that she can use technology in her favour which she does use to her advantage in the climax of the film where she uses the suit to fight the queen alien. At the end of the film, the suit represents a suit of armour for Ripley, but when we first see her in it, she may be proving her worthiness but she also demeaning herself by doing a lower lever job and showing her capabilities to prove her point. “Ripley runs forklifts and power lowers at the station’s cargo docks. The connotation, however, compounded with the dejected feeling of the scene and Burke’s somewhat demeaning manner, is that she is, if not prostituting herself, then at least working far below her station.”

Read More

Steven Spielberg Impact

1021 Words | 5 Pages

“With E.T., a fairy tale about a boy's friendship with an alien stranded on Earth, Spielberg made one of the most cherished films of its time. The movie made him a celebrity in his own right and even garnered him a United Nations Peace Medal. Spielberg's influence on U.S. culture in this period cannot be overestimated. Indiana Jones, E.T., and the shark [Jaws] became durable icons” (“Steven”). Given that, Steven Spielberg created a masterpiece by bringing in an alien for the first time into film, which therefore created an icon and symbol of American culture.

Read More

Tyler Perry Why Did I Get Married Analysis

1285 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout history the portrayal of gender roles have been maintained by a specific standard, specifically where the man is the main figure, and the woman is the submissive figure that is being acted upon. However, lately, specifically the last ten or so years, many movies have shifted this ideology. These movies in modern times show increasingly more women in positions of power, as well as in marriages where there is an equal amount of power between both the husband and wife. There are also more movies showcasing non-traditional relationships, such as, domestic partnerships and LGBTQ+ relationships. One movie in particular that showcases a shift in the status quo, in terms of the masculinity and femininity expected from individuals especially that of a relationships, is Tyler Perry’s

Read More

Fear Of An Amorphous Alien In John Carpenter's Who Goes There?

223 Words | 1 Pages

Even though the general reception of the film brought less of an apocalyptic feel of planetary destruction as seen in The War of the Worlds, it still presented a fear of an alien threat

Read More

James Tiptree Summary

573 Words | 3 Pages

Therefore, Russ’s work is divisive amongst races and, furthermore, to many other feminists’ ideals, to be sure. However, Russ cavils the minimal that are both material feminist and science fiction enthusiasts. Ursula K. LeGuin’s and James Tiptree, celebrated as groundbreaking and revolutionary, in Russ’s eyes were no more than patriarchal works that focused on women instead of the deconstruction of women. Farah Mendelsohn states, “Russ argues that despite the close attention that women authors pay to women characters and to inventing worlds marked by gender equity, the gender stereotypes that pervade science fiction by men show up “just as often” in the science fiction written by women.” Mendelson attributes that some of the assailment could be attributed to competition.

Read More

Mr Elliot Masculinity

775 Words | 4 Pages

The use of feminine symbols throughout the short story of “Mr. and Mrs. Elliot” helps categorized which gender category Mr. Elliot fits in as he gravitates towards feminine traits. In the nineteenth century, having masculinity was associated with “aggression, the desire to conquer, and worldly achievements were among them.” While, femininity was seen as one with the traits of “nurturing, staying at home, enjoying leisure” (Domotor 2). Throughout the short story Hemingway includes symbols to show where Mr. Elliot fits into these categories of masculine and femininity.

Read More

Conan The Destroyer Themes

294 Words | 2 Pages

The author Robert E. Howard infused all of his fiction with distinctive racial themes and attitude. Unlike in the short story, I prefer the movie version “Conan the destroyer” the portrayal of different races and the interpretation of gender in the movie because of they offer a whole new point of view. In the movie, all the stereotypes of gender disappear and are replaced by a totally new idea. Howard seems to have a low opinion of women; He portrays women as wenches or prizes. They are weak, dependent, and pretty.

Read More

Theme Of Feminism In Thelma And Louise

1000 Words | 4 Pages

Ridley Scott’s ‘female buddy movie’ Thelma and Louise centres around issues of male dominance and the freedom of release from society. Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) are women suppressed by the men in their lives. They take a vacation to escape for a few days and after an attempted rape and murder they end up fugitives on the run for their lives. This unintended event ends up being for them the best adventure of their lives, as they are able to divest from the rules of society and become the independent women they are. By subverting the traditional role of gender in the genre, the film shows how feminism impacted the film industry by challenging Hollywood and the gendered myths and social patriarchy, providing women with a voice, and changing how spectators view how women are looked at through women’s eyes and their experiences.

Read More

Astro Boy Gender Stereotypes

720 Words | 3 Pages

Growing up as a child in the early 21st century I, had Power Puff Girls, Dora, Winx and Angelina Ballerina forced down my throat. That is until my brother came along and Astro Boy, car racing, video games, and Teenage Mutant Ninja came to my attention. Today I will be sharing my views of people on the cause of gender stereotypes in texts, throughout the many years of modern age. Throughout the years, gender stereotypes against females and males have been lessening. These are still present in the modern social age; this has happened through social media, children books, ads, and movies.

Read More

Human Beings Exposed In The Thing From Another World

1075 Words | 5 Pages

Due to the human curiosity and self-interest exhibited by the scientists and the United States Air Force crew, the alien is unleashed and wreaks havoc on earthly inhabitants. The film begins in Anchorage, Alaska with the arrival of Ned “Scotty” Scott, a sardonic reporter, who was invited to the airbase by his old friend, Captain Patrick Hendy. Scotty arrives with the intention of reporting a story about the endeavours of the United States Air Force. After an apparent plane crashes near the airbase, Captain Hendy, his crew, and Scotty set out to a isolated research center in the Arctic to investigate the accident.

Read More

More about Masculinity In Alien

Related Topics

Open Document