2. Women as main characters
A question usually asked is why aren't
there any good superhero films with a
female character as the lead although
their supporting character roles are
continually improving?
Looking back at older films such as Aeon
Flux or Cat woman; they are critically
panned as being bad.
The coined term by Laura Mulvey “Male
Gaze”. May have something to do with
this.
As a note, they also are
mainly Anti-Heroes in their
Onwards to Why. own movies. There are no
“Captain America's here.
3. Why?
A common theme is that Film-
makers primarily choose to focus
on a super heroines looks and
attractiveness to draw in male
audiences. As far as I am aware
there have been zero super
heroines that are not seen as un-
attractive. So although the
characters can use their looks
and exploiting stereotypes for an
advantage to get places, basing
an entire film around this trope
turns the characters from being To be the honest the chances of “Barb
Wire” not being a film focussing on the
relatable, to being objectively “attractiveness” of the female lead were
pretty low.
viewed.
So more attention in the writing, acting and the way the audience views the
film is about how the super heroine looks and what she's wearing rather than
her intelligence or other more heroic traits.
4. Supporting Characters
●
This is where there is definitely more diversity in character
traits for both men or women as they aren't entirely focussed
on. I've touched on the more common supportive roles in the
superhero genre back in my post on conventions. The upcoming
two aspects of a supportive role of women are just two of the
more noticeable supporting characters within these films. Both
the good and the bad
5. Women as supporting characters
“Mary Janes”
This is a phrase I made up; but that is
because this character personifies this type
of female supporting character.
●
She is a Love Interest of Peter Parker
●
Always gets captured in all 3 films
●
Although she makes independent decisions
that conflict with the hero, they are
ultimately “wrong”.
Now to be honest, this type of
characterisation has definitely toned back
over the last few years in superhero films
and was actually not all that common before
the 21st century as well Point is, this is not a As a note: In the comics and animated TV
very good type of female supporting shows Mary Jane is much more than a “Mary-
Jane” nowadays
character to aim for.
6. Women as supporting characters
Well Rounded
This is pretty much the aim of all good
female supporting characters. To be known
for themselves rather than to be known for
the way the hero interacts with them. This
applies to men as well. Great supporting
characters is what can really elevate a film.
●
These types of characters are shown as
capable and able to get themselves out of
situations.
●
Are more of a noticable aid to the Main
heroes rather than being a burden.
7. Change in Male main characters in
Action Films
Back in the 80s, prior to advacements in
editing technolgy stars such as Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Slyvester Stallone
made more of an impact due to their
psysique being able to back up the more
outlandish stunts they were doing.
How ever as time moved on and technology
improved, so it was believable for an
“average” person to do more heroic acts,
wish was the draw for “Die Hard” This is
important as superheroes are usually just
ordinary people who have been given
powers. It was also past the mid 90s when
there was a faster rise in the amount of
superhero films being realeased.
8. Applying this to superhero genre
Superheroes are meant to be , an average
person who is unique in a certain way. So
with the rise of average looking action
heroes came the rise of superheroes.
The way males are represented are usually
confident and aren't shown to be weak,
especially once they've obtained their
power, maybe prior to it.
9. Male Supporting Character
This is quite short, but the male
supporting characters within
superfilms films can range from
being cowardly to being strong
and useful. They can even
overshadow the hero, if the are
acted well. For example, Captain
Jack Sparrow pushed himself
from a supporting role to a main
character role through acting
alone. There is definitely more
choice for male supporting
characters especially as they
can appear as “less attractive”
(physically and emotionally) on
films more than their female
counter-parts
10. Conclusion
For Women: For Males:
If I were to include them in my Though my character can be
opening I'd probably want to more flawed, if he is the main
establish the type of character character it is probably wise for
she is going to be throughout the there to be are improvement of
film. Though to be honest I'd himself throughout the film to a
probably go for the more well point of being more heroic, like
rounded archetypes of female in “Kick-ass”, where the
characters as it makes them development of the character
more memorable (for the right ended on a high.
reasons) in the long run.
