In the movie, it was the epoch of strong women, and that's what's wrong with them
Cinema / / December 19, 2019
On March 7, the Russian rolling out the picture "Captain Marvel" - the second superhero movie for two years with a woman in the lead role. Layfhaker understands how strong female movie characters in vogue and why to us not just a motion picture, and a harbinger of great change.
Why do we talk about strong women
2019 rich in films about strong women: "Two queens", "sultana"" Alita: Battle Angel "and finally sverhozhidaemogo" Captain Marvel. " It seems that the creators of the film realized that not so long ago mastered and directed serials like "Game of Thrones" or "Amazing Mrs Meisel": stories of women in leading roles - strong, interesting, lively, different - able collect cash.
Strong women dot present in popular culture more or less forever. Come to mind Joan of Arc, Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, Iovin that killed the King of the Nazgul, and Carrie, carrying bloody revenge offenders.
The problem is that such units characters. They are - exceptions to the rules, examples of unique women. The rest of the strong character often were male assistants, even if many times superior to their strength or experience (Leia and Luke). There were villains like the Snow Queen and Maleficent or were sexualized male fantasy of a strong woman.
Today, it would seem, such a progressive time studyInvestors prefer entrepreneurial ventures pitched by attractive men showed that venture investors are willing to invest in the project, presented the woman, 32% of cases. And at 68%, if the same project "sells" male.
If even now, many subconsciously believe women "by nature" stupid... I mean, I'm sorry, unsuited to the challenges and leading roles, what to expect from our praprapradeda? And break down these stereotypes was more difficult than to rewrite19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution: Women's Right to Vote US Constitution.
How to form a strong female character types in a movie
To films about strong women have had success, we need, in general, is a key ingredient - an audience that wants to watch such films. And while women lived financially dependent, apart from his first (or only) mission childbearing and family care, Wonder Woman was simply nowhere to take.
That we are discussing today in the context of feminism kinovselennoy MarvelIt took only two world wars, when men went to the front, and the women stood up for the machines. And yet, industrialization, distribution of contraceptives and the two waves of feminism.
Until the 70s were strong film heroine or historical characters ( "Joan of Arc", 1948, Ingrid Bergman), a rare anomaly, like Victoria of German film in 1931 "Victor / Victoria." She had changed into a man, to operate an analogue of modern drag queen cabaret. Even now, such a scenario would have been considered bold.
And in the very 70's a strong woman on the big screen was one protoronnaya path - to become a villain. In film noir, this trend has given us the image of the femme fatale who cheat or use men for their own benefit. Her arms were beauty and female cunning.
However, the market for long content with a femme Fatale. And in its place came more and more new types. Here are the main ones.
Pretty woman with a gun
In response to the desire of the audience to look at the strong woman in an aggressive, masculine performance, but still attractive, the writers created a beauty with a gun. It's a smart woman, the dream of anyone with a gun in one hand and mascara - in another. Signed an early example - Pam Grier in the form of "Foxy Brown" (1974). She broke the pattern of male conservative US society 70, becoming the first African-American actress who played the role of a sexy Bandidas.
Today, it is the image we seem vulgar and downmix heroine to a sexual object, but at the time, and like the heroine Foxy became bold challenge to the status quo. In the 90 others already white actress by the name of Pam continued the tradition in "Barb Wire" (1996) and Charlize Theron removed the plaque with her style of the nineties in the "explosive blonde" (2017).
Mother Bear
At first, the mother appeared in movies as either a background or as antagonists. Hitchcock used the figure most often oppressive, tyrannical mother even as the plot tool. Another famous mother-monster was the mother of Carrie in the same name adaptation of King.
Gradually, however, a strong mother is transformed into an independent positive figure. It inspires the hero and perform the functions that in fairy tales would take on the fairy godmother or punishing the enemies of the hero-goddess protector.
The first sign mother bear mass film may assume Sarah Connor from the first (1984) and particularly the second "Terminator" (1991). And Molly Weasley in the film adaptation of "Harry Potter" modernizes the image. However, it was seen as strong, just as she swore obscenities and Bellatrix killed in a duel. Was she so before? Most likely, yes, the other would not stand Fred and George. But whether it is noticed anyone?
Sarah no one saw the mother bear in the first film. And to find the character, it had to build muscle and take a shotgun in the other.
Selected
Next - the better. The real queens and mythological goddesses gave impetus to the selected facial features - a girl with a gift, a special power or birthright. The first inscribed into heroin canon of this type steel Jeanne d'Arc by Ingrid Bergman (1948) and Cleopatra (1963) played by Elizabeth Taylor. In their footsteps followed the Vampire Slayer Buffy Summers (1992), Lilly of "The Fifth Element" (1997) and Ray of a new trilogy "Star wars».
The extent to which the strength of these women is a real, not phony, varies from picture to picture: Lilly, for example, was simply a living artifact. It "created a perfect", because the only way (in the opinion of the writers) Korben Dallas could fall in love with her in the final.
Buffy, on the contrary, written and played by Sarah Michelle Gellar is quite lively and imperfect girl. It suffers from the usual pains of ordinary schoolgirls: what to wear to the prom and how to appeal to the dangerous, but a nice guy older.
Ray is disappointed critics and fans, becoming a reincarnation of Mary Sue archetype - a female character, unrealistic in its hypertrophied merits. Obeying the modern social trends, producers Lucasfilm firmly decided to make the heroine of a new trilogy "strong female character."
And it happened that always happens when feminism shove people in the throat - the heroine, who can do everything. And this is - not the real strength.
the most intelligent
An interesting type, which had not given the leading roles. No wonder: in one studyScience faculty's subtle gender biases favor male studentsWhere participants were asked to evaluate the applicant's resume for the position in a scientific laboratory, they found that John is much more competent and deserves a greater salary than Jennifer. Although this variety in their resume was just a name.
The other children askedGender stereotypes about intellectual ability emerge early and influence children's interests, What gender, in their opinion, it belongs to the "very, very clever," hero of the story. And the children of both sexes together inclined to believe that the hero, likely a male.
But times change, and smart is the new sexy. And Scully "classified material"Hermione and Lisbeth Salander, though worked side by side with the heroes of the male sex, loudly declared itself as an independent person. And as a result they have become much more popular than their partners in the film.
tomboy
Another new movie in a mass character - a tomboy. 10 years ago it was difficult to imagine such a wildly popular Disney princess as Merida from "Brave Heart", rytsarshi like Brienne or Arya Stark from "Game of Thrones."
Tomboy flashed in popular culture in the past. I remember Pippi Longstocking (1949 and later), scouts from "To Kill a Mockingbird"(1962) and Josephine of" Little Women "(1933 and later). But this type has never been so popular, stylish and cash.
Tomboy become more diverse and visually Merida wears a dress and long hair, but it does not prevent her to be strong and courageous. These heroines are involved in popular romantic lines, and if not, what are genuine happiness and joy in other things, gradually defying the stereotype of the "strong - so unhappy."
Apart stands Ellen Ripley, who burst onto the screens thanks to the film "Alien" (1979), but eventually matured in the second movie film 1986. So far, it is considered a benchmark of strong character in the movie, having collected a little bit of different types.
Ripley sexy, almost like a babe with a gun, but does not focus on this attention and prefers comfortable clothes like tomboy. Her mother-bear wakes up, to save the girl from Newt I. raptus, and the most intelligent it becomes when sending monster fly in the open space.
Despite the trivial origin, it could be considered a kinotipazhu relatively new to the mainstream cinema, but favored by critics and audiences - the epic character. And this leads us to the "Wonder Woman" in 2017.
What is the problem superwoman
In adaptations of comics complicated relationship with female characters. Thus, the first superheroFantomah He appeared in the paper in 1940 and a year later in the DC universe lit up for the first time Wonder Woman. But his film she had to wait more than 70 years. For comparison, the first short film about Superman was released in 1944.
Predecessor superwoman in film was memorable for millenialov "Xena - Warrior Princess" (1995). A couple of best friend Gabriel, she has become a feminist icon of the 90s.
And 22 years later, in 2017, in rolling out "Wonder Woman" with Gal Gadot, and all gone crazy. Critics knock down, pulling the film compliments. Feminist Twitter talking about a new era of Hollywood heroines. But is it justified?
Population Themiscyra looks like a parade of angels Victoria's Secret, battle scar among the nation the hereditary Warriors have only Robin Wright, and the main antagonistka - the only woman in the entire mutilated movie.
Diana herself, of course, impresses its own character. She is moved by the infant in the street, and after half an hour of screen time alone draw crosses land. There is no doubt that it is - a worthy role model.
But there is one thing Diana also elected. It resembles a cobbled together writers ideal than a living person. Power is given to it, the Amazon and the daughter of Ares, a birthright. Assistant Steve Trevor directly calls it "the most beautiful woman in the world." Naivety and belief in people - the result of childhood, spent in a utopia without a gram of hardship. And her courage and kindness - human choice or fate of the superhero?
But Carol Danvers, she captain Marvel- a man and a US Air Force pilot. Suddenly we get a new, shiny, mainstream Ellen Ripley in the context of the modern epic?
Unfortunately, Brie Larson came to a common trap: "strong - so with a straight face." It's hard to say why it happened. Maybe it's farewell screenwriters and directors who tried to dissociate itself from the emotional Wonder Woman. Or in their own interpretation of the actress. Or maybe the fact that this film tries to accommodate just three paintings - an epic action film, feminist manifesto and movies about cops-mate - and no one does not open fully.
As a result, Carol Danvers turned wood. Even when she says seems to be the right things ( "I should not have to prove anything to you!"), They seem fabricated for the sake of the social agenda, as the naive kindness Wonder Woman.
In addition, the captain can compete with Superman forces. And from a character who can fly in space and shoot deadly clots of energy from his hands, it is difficult to make a mere mortal. Wherever she was born.
But the good news is. Firstly, in flashbacks - in conversations with rejuvenated 30 years Nick Fury and communicating with an old friend - Carole reveals himself is the woman that everyone has been waiting for. Fun and sentimental, but not weak. Secondly, in once, the film is not even a hint of romantic lineAnd Bekdel testtest Bekdel the film takes place with a good margin. Thirdly, the picture still collects a decent cash: already $ 260 million in the US and 500 - of the world. So, the new Marvel-movie with women in the lead role to be. And this is good.
Generally, if you stop to consider the capital and Wonder Woman under a magnifying glass in the search for flaws and look at the situation well, becomes even strange that a movie about superwoman out so good, considering how recently they have started do.
And maybe, if we are a little more tolerant to errors and give the new generation kinodela find his rhythm, the more we get the new Ellen Ripley.
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