Gender, Violence, and Family in Man of Steel
In the film, Man of Steel, portrayals of violence have a direct correlation to gender. According to Abele and Gronbeck-Tedesco (2015), “female characters are often exploited to highlight violence in Superhero films” (p. 84). Most superhero films use the notion of the female gender role to highlight the violent actions of male lead characters (Abele & Gronbeck-Tedesco, 2015, p. 84). In Man of Steel, this aggressive branding is not present. Perhaps, it may be because Zack Snyder realized that women should not be portrayed as sexual objects which violence can exacerbate. As stated by Producer Deborah Snyder, “rather than being constructed of hyper-masculinity and violence, the gender role in Man of …show more content…
In this scene Superman is caught between a rock and a hard place. Superman has Zod in a choke hold preventing Zod from fighting back. Zod is unwilling to accept defeat and uses his heat vision in an attempt to kill a man and woman with two daughters. Snapping Zod’s neck in this scene neck implies that when push comes to shove moving beyond killing is something humans are not able to do. This scene emphasizes the ideal nuclear family which consist of a dad, mom and kids. Superman throws Zod through buildings and seems to show no regard for protecting innocents. The principal theme of the film is the impulse to justifiable action, tempered by the fear of unforeseen, self-destructive consequences. The big showdown in the middle of the city is a standard trope of superhero films. The climax heralds the genres most widespread and cataclysmic destruction yet. Unlike in other superhero/ super villain fights, here, innocents get caught in the middle of the fight, and even Superman is unable to save them
In the film, Man of Steel, portrayals of violence have a direct correlation to gender. According to Abele and Gronbeck-Tedesco (2015), “female characters are often exploited to highlight violence in Superhero films” (p. 84). Most superhero films use the notion of the female gender role to highlight the violent actions of male lead characters (Abele & Gronbeck-Tedesco, 2015, p. 84). In Man of Steel, this aggressive branding is not present. Perhaps, it may be because Zack Snyder realized that women should not be portrayed as sexual objects which violence can exacerbate. As stated by Producer Deborah Snyder, “rather than being constructed of hyper-masculinity and violence, the gender role in Man of …show more content…
In this scene Superman is caught between a rock and a hard place. Superman has Zod in a choke hold preventing Zod from fighting back. Zod is unwilling to accept defeat and uses his heat vision in an attempt to kill a man and woman with two daughters. Snapping Zod’s neck in this scene neck implies that when push comes to shove moving beyond killing is something humans are not able to do. This scene emphasizes the ideal nuclear family which consist of a dad, mom and kids. Superman throws Zod through buildings and seems to show no regard for protecting innocents. The principal theme of the film is the impulse to justifiable action, tempered by the fear of unforeseen, self-destructive consequences. The big showdown in the middle of the city is a standard trope of superhero films. The climax heralds the genres most widespread and cataclysmic destruction yet. Unlike in other superhero/ super villain fights, here, innocents get caught in the middle of the fight, and even Superman is unable to save them