Why are men most of the time the leading character in science fiction films - Essay Example

Why Are Men Most of the Time the Leading Character in Science Fiction Films? Males have historically appeared to dominate and play the role of leading character in science fiction films. This trend has been disturbing to socialists and feminists who have increasingly fought for balancing of the roles to include if not substituting females with males in playing leading roles in the science fiction films. Such determinations have manifested through female actors joining and streaming the art of science fiction films to agitate for their recognition. Feminist female writers have expressed desire to translate the current social shift that is intending to achieve total gender equality. Many reasons underlie the mystery of male gender appear to dominate or assume massive roles as leading characters in the science fiction film. One reason attributes to the intensive use of technology in the science fiction films (Tolette 42). In most of the science fiction films, it is common to come across high-tech guns, rockets, robots and massive scientific phenomena in the lines of technology. It is undisputable that male genders or men have been the main innovators, inventors and creators of the technologies and the technological devices. The fact that they create technology and technological devices places them in the best position to control and manage the operations of the devices. Tolette confirms that these are facts known to every individual in the wider societies and it would be deceptive or meaningless for writers of the science fiction films give women leading roles in the movies (49). The aspect of deception can occur because movies and films act as reflections of the contemporary or future social issues within the particular societies, and people find it enjoyable when movies demonstrate some aspects of social reality. This means that using male gender to play leading roles in the films creates sense of reasonability, credibility and authenticity of the particular films of science fiction. However, the technological aspect tat warrants male dominance in the science fiction films is slowly fading since women are increasingly participating in technological advancements making it reasonable to begin featuring females as leading characters in the films. One example of such developments includes The Stepford Wives (1975) that featured a small village where there was gradual replacement of wives with robotic women (Stange, Carol and Jane 1223). Other examples are the Eve of Destruction (1991, Aliens (1986), Terminator 2 and Cherry 2000 (1987), which pointedly placed women in the positions of technological mastery. The listed films feature women as wielders of hardware, creators of powerful programs and givers of orders. In the demonstration of Johnston, another reason for male taking leading roles in most of the science fiction movies relates to the fact that they men constitute the majority writers of the films (52). This dominance has seen male film writers focus on giving men roles of leading characters. The dominant male film writers also take advantage of widespread perception and reality that men constitute the great scientists and use the scientific fictions in films to confirm this reality to the societies. In addition, dominant male writers of the science fiction films use the privilege to hold on the traditional beliefs that put men above women. The film writers have the urge to demonstrate and reinforce their initial social order of making women subjective to men and incapable of playing complex roles. Another reason for domination of male in leading characters in science fiction relates to be belief that women make decisions based on emotions and tension while those of males rely on rationality (Stange, Carol and Jane 1224) 43). This fact makes filmmakers afford women subordinate and supporting roles while men play leading roles. Science fiction films solely bases on the principles of technology and are tech intensive. To operate successfully, scientific devices such as those mostly used in science fiction films require rational brains and personalities to make rational judgment. More writers understand this is the reality even in the societies and audience may take consider it strange to watch movies featuring women as exercising rational judgment. The emotion and tension factors that dominate decision-making process among women have seen disqualification of feminine characters in the leading roles. Movie writers always know that to make their work interesting, they need to enhance and ensure complexities that demand noble judgment to achieve solution. Unlike men who can analyze situations and decide on the best operation without entirely depending on tensions and emotions, women easily become frustrated and make wrong decisions when overwhelmed with tension and emotion. It is for the reasons that most writers of the science fiction films allocate female gender the roles as source of love and damsel in distress for men. Female gender typically provides men with relief after accomplishing challenging and tiresome tasks. These assumed role of females in science fiction film is manifest in the movies like Sin City (2005) created by Frank Miller (Erickson 54). The film demonstrates feminine prostitutes who dress provocatively to attract men. According to Johnston, another reason for continued dominance of males as leading characters in science fiction films relates to the intensive demonstration of power as common in the fiction films (146). For instance, many science fiction films concentrate on featuring episodes when science inventions result to magnanimous creatures with great power to frustrate life of human beings. To make film real writers plots the movie in the manner that the victim society finds a way to deal and handle the threat. It is in such occasions that film writers create the need for masculinity with power and courage to manage the contemporary terror. In so doing, film writers have to portray any masculine creature as males who in the real social settings are courageous and powerful than the females. However, with the realization and acceptance to promote gender equality that has seen rise of female film writers, there are science fiction films that depict women as powerful creatures and as leading characters. Examples of such science fiction films include Crouching tiger, Tomb Rider and Charlie’s Angels. In conclusion, it is worth acknowledging that males have dominated the leading roles in most of the science fiction films. This fact exists due to historical and traditional beliefs and stereotypes of societies. The traditional beliefs and stereotypes placed women in the lower class levels of the societies. Societies perceived that women could not do what men did. Coupled with the fact science fiction films majorly revolve around technological phenomena and that males are the main inventors and creators of the technologies, film writers have always considered featuring men as leading characters in the films. Film writers have been doing this to ensure that their work is in line with the social reality across various societies to attract them market. Male dominance in the field of science fiction film is another reason for allocation of leading characters to males in the films. Techno savvy and the fact that males dominate scientific fields is another reason why male have dominated leading characters in the science fiction film industry. Works cited Erickson, Mark. Science, Culture and Society: Understanding Science in the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005. Print. Johnston, Keith M. Science Fiction Film: A Critical Introduction. Oxford: Berg Publishers, 2011. Print. Stange, Mary Z, Carol K. Oyster, and Jane Sloan. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Reference, 2011. Print. Telotte, J P. Science Fiction Film. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. Read More