The Gender Roles Portrayed by Science Fiction - Essay Example

The Gender Roles Portrayed by Science Fiction Metropolis, 2001, Space Odyssey and alien are science fictionsthat portray application of man’s technology in creating human-like robots (Lunning 171). The advancing understanding of the human intelligence prompted the creation of these fiction stories. In each story, there are robots that portray human-like characteristics of either a man or a woman. Each story portrays imagined traits that a man or a woman of extreme intelligence can exhibit. The traits exhibited by the man-machines reflect on the societal gender roles. Since Darwin described the attributes of sex selection in evolution, most societies have been relying on such understanding to define the expected feminine and masculine traits. Such traits come out in the man-machines constructed by humans. Space odyssey describes different phases of the evolvement of human intelligence. The narrator relates the development of man from ape-like creatures to an advanced level of intelligence. The narrator then takes the reader’s imagination to a higher level in which man ventures into space to discover the preceding sources of intelligence. The intelligent man makes Hal, a man-machine to drive and control a spaceship heading to Japetus to discover the traces of previous forms of intelligence.hal has the potential to make independent decisions, take control of the space ship, give orders to the astronauts on board and believes he can accomplish the mission on his own. The human created portrays the socially defined traits of a man that include a high level of independence, exercise of control and power, aggressiveness and assertiveness (119). Society visualizes man as having the potential to exercise power and control more than the woman has. Darwin explained that conditions in nature compel men to develop such traits. According to Darwin, women have a relatively small brain capacity compared to men. This explains why the imagination of man can only allow him to create a being that has masculine traits and advanced intelligence. In addition, the last part of the fiction [portrays how Bowman enters into a different form of life. On entering star gate, Bowman displayed a rare sense of courage and did not let fear carry him over to the next world. Bowman plunges into the new world with expectation and excitement. He does not hesitate to gain the new form of energy to control the world. Kulbrick portrays the story as Darwin elaborated. He implies that just as Darwin indicated, men have a greater potential of intelligence than women do (121). In his fiction, he gives men all the chances of discovering the world and excludes the women. The view he projects to society is that technology and scientific advances are masculine adventures. In the first part of the film, Kulbrick presents to us Moonwatcher, who is huge and gigantic compared to his tribesmen. Moonwatcher advances slowly as environmental conditions change from ape-like nature to humanity. He is the first human being to experience bravery and a sense of leadership. He discovers how man can use traditional tools to hunt animals for food. He developed emotions within him as time elapses. Kulbrick draws the picture of man having a higher social standing that a woman right from the start. This picture compares positively to Darwin’s theory. Space odyssey projects masculine superiority in science and technology. This view is evident in our society. Interestingly, Kulbrick displays that some women can work together with men in scientific ventures. He brings in women like Elena who travels to the moon with other women. This only makes one point clear that Kulbrick has realized that both men and women can work together to bring about scientific breakthroughs. In a different fiction story, Alien, then director brings out his perspective of gender roles and traits. In his story line, he reverses what society considers the norm. A crew is out to explore the space with the goal of collecting samples of an alien creature. The crew consists of both male and female members but use their surnames to cover-up the issue of gender. The original Alien film presented a female hero who exhibited traits and qualities that society considers masculine. The assertive and confident woman, Ripley became the only survivor of the space crew. Surviving required her to defeat the superhuman alien that possessed more power than humans did. Among the crew was a robot with a programmed thinking. Being a hero, she defeats attacks from the robot and alien and when all the other members of the crew succumb to defeat and death, she triumphs. She is not a superhuman but the director’s imagination allows her to overcome all the barriers in the space trip and survive. This fiction portrays a different picture to the society. The director defies Darwinian theories on sex selection. In a situation where both men and women need to find means of survival, all perish but a woman. The woman withstands the perils of a space trip and controls the trip. Darwin’s theory of sex selection and masculine traits lacks justification from this fiction. The director defies the common natural rules and introduces us to new realms of feminine dominance. Amazingly, the director does not make then woman a robot with extreme ability for her to triumph. She protects herself and the cat she treasures so much. This brings out the fact that women can play a protective role. Contrary to Darwin’s theory, women can compete and adapt to situations. Alien brings out contrasting ideas to the belief of sex selection that allows women to develop physical characteristics that enable women to give birth. In this fiction, a male gives birth to the alien creature. The process Kane undergoes is analogous to child bearing. The director stretches our imagination that probably could develop new adaptations for child bearing. The director challenges Darwin’s natural and sex selection theory. The fiction goes to the extremes of contrasting the stipulations of natural selection. He imagines a male giving birth to a monster. Metropolis 2001 is another fiction that explores man’s ability to make super robots. Civilization and technology define the metropolis city (171). Director Iain projects the possibility of a world full of robots. In this world, the gap between the poor and affluent will broaden. In the fiction, metropolis has many man-machines working for the rich. The poor cannot find jobs because robots have replaced labor. According to predictions of scientific advancement and theories, technology should improve the status of the people. However, the contrary happens in this city. That is not the climax of Iain’s fiction. The duke hires a doctor to make a super robot in memory of his dead daughter. The duke plans to leave the throne to the super robot. The super robot, Tima closely resembles human. Characteristically, she appears so human that Kenichi falls in love with her (Lunning 171). However, her destiny is determined. She is the nuclear weapon that will bring down the major cities. Te female robot has the power to bring the world down and sit on the throne. Iain paints a feminine dominance using his fiction. When Tima’s memory integrates with the set-up network, she becomes the world hero. The director of this movie presents a contrast to the societal norm of masculine dominance. He chooses to make the next atomic thing that will destroy the world a woman. Hue brings out intriguing questions to the minds of a viewer. The fiction prompts the viewer to imagine a world when women can adapt favorably to conditions than men and overtake global leadership. The director contrasts Tima’s position with that of Rock. Rock, an adopted son to the duke, fights for his right to sit on the throne (Lunning 172). However, the duke opts to give it to a female robot. The director contrasts the social norm of dukes and kings passing down leadership to male offspring. It becomes apparent that if the daughter were alive, she would stand a leadership opportunity. The scenario defies the prejudice accorded to masculine characters and personalities. All the science fictions contrast in way with the sex selection stipulations character trait development according to natural selection. In the real world, intelligence tests have proved that men and women have relatively equal brain capacity. The variation on intelligence level does not result from gender differences. In some real time situations, some women score above average in intelligence tests. However, it is true that men and women have different sexual characteristics. Science attributes this to the difference in dominant hormones. The fiction stories predict that women can be sources can be part of the scientific and technological revolution. They also indicate that women can take-up leadership positions. These fictions engage the viewer to the dawning reality that women can exercise power, and hold leadership positions in a better way than men hold. It drives the viewer to start embracing the emerging realities in the world. As technology advances, it places both men and women at equal opportunities. For many years, society has always accorded the male gender a lot of importance. In the space odyssey, the malfunction of Hal indicates that the male gender has its shortcomings as well. The female gender receives little attention and importance. Metropolis 2001 and Alien present the female gender as powerful individuals. This is a prediction of the future. In the current society, technological advances are coming with a change in attitudes. Women demand more recognition in society. Affirmative actions are rampant in all nations advocating for a change in the gender roles. As the fiction alien predicts, women will not cease to nurture if they acquire leadership or power. The hero of the fiction demonstrates that women can be good leaders and retain their ability to nurture. The fictions analyzed indicate that the stipulations of the sex selection theory and traits associate with each gender do not always apply. Darwin and his counter parts suggest that males have superiority in society in terms of intelligence, aggression, assertiveness, bravery and others that enable them compete effectively. Space odyssey overemphasizes the ability of man to exercise extreme intelligence. However, the director indicates that this leads to destruction. Currently, women are contributing to the ongoing technological innovations. The male prejudice has deep roots among the human race. However, it is possible that time will pluck it out. Work cited Lunning, Frenchy. Mechademia 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga. Minnesota: University of Minnesota, 2006. Print. Read More