Candace Eugene
Professor Schmidt
September 25, 2014
Metropolis: 2.1 Gender and Technology
The depiction of technology and femininity is evident in Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1927). This urban dystopian film has distinctive elements that allegorize the female identity and sexual idealizations to appeal to the mass by incorporating technology. In the beginning of the film, viewers see a clear indifference between the ruling class and the working poor. We also see how technology is portrayed to the wealthy and indigent.
The use of class diversity is an important part of Lang’s film that ties in gender and technology. The wealthy citizens of Metropolis view technology as a decadent way of life, and a essential part of the growing …show more content…
Whilst women were considered unskilled and ignorant. Women are almost always associated with nature when technology is the exact opposite. Technology is man made and artificial. Engineering and technology merely always regard to men. In Huyssen’s dissertation, “The Machine Woman,” he focuses on Fritz Lang’s representations of technology. Huyssen cross-examines the reasons as to why Rotwang didn’t create “Machine Men,” but created a woman instead. Rather Rotwang creates an artifact that was initially lifeless in which he can control.
It does seem to reinforce the male fear of technology and woman in the film. Originally Joh Fredersen’s uncertainty of the workers and disquisitive mindset towards Maria urges him to collaborate with Rotwang and his invention of the vamp, in order to overthrow the workers revolt. Fredersen shows his fear of femininity.
For example, in the beginning of the film we see the wealthy socialite women frolicking in the garden being pursued by men. Soon after, a Maria step in and she interjects to tell the kids of the impoverished and unprivileged life, that everyone are their “brothers.” Hinting that they are all equal. Granted she leaks kindness from within, Maria overall posses a threat to the wealthier …show more content…
Lang has chosen to depict this film as one of an authoritarian and patriarchal society. They aren’t many women represented in this silent film but I believe that Lang wanted to create a city embellished only by men. The roles of women are constantly contrasted, in ways that illuminate the idealization of technology, which is seen, by the vixen whore, and the virgin Maria. This leads viewers to ask the question can women, who are sexual beings have the capability of being good people or would they be dammed to such degrading and shameful acts that the vamp
Professor Schmidt
September 25, 2014
Metropolis: 2.1 Gender and Technology
The depiction of technology and femininity is evident in Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1927). This urban dystopian film has distinctive elements that allegorize the female identity and sexual idealizations to appeal to the mass by incorporating technology. In the beginning of the film, viewers see a clear indifference between the ruling class and the working poor. We also see how technology is portrayed to the wealthy and indigent.
The use of class diversity is an important part of Lang’s film that ties in gender and technology. The wealthy citizens of Metropolis view technology as a decadent way of life, and a essential part of the growing …show more content…
Whilst women were considered unskilled and ignorant. Women are almost always associated with nature when technology is the exact opposite. Technology is man made and artificial. Engineering and technology merely always regard to men. In Huyssen’s dissertation, “The Machine Woman,” he focuses on Fritz Lang’s representations of technology. Huyssen cross-examines the reasons as to why Rotwang didn’t create “Machine Men,” but created a woman instead. Rather Rotwang creates an artifact that was initially lifeless in which he can control.
It does seem to reinforce the male fear of technology and woman in the film. Originally Joh Fredersen’s uncertainty of the workers and disquisitive mindset towards Maria urges him to collaborate with Rotwang and his invention of the vamp, in order to overthrow the workers revolt. Fredersen shows his fear of femininity.
For example, in the beginning of the film we see the wealthy socialite women frolicking in the garden being pursued by men. Soon after, a Maria step in and she interjects to tell the kids of the impoverished and unprivileged life, that everyone are their “brothers.” Hinting that they are all equal. Granted she leaks kindness from within, Maria overall posses a threat to the wealthier …show more content…
Lang has chosen to depict this film as one of an authoritarian and patriarchal society. They aren’t many women represented in this silent film but I believe that Lang wanted to create a city embellished only by men. The roles of women are constantly contrasted, in ways that illuminate the idealization of technology, which is seen, by the vixen whore, and the virgin Maria. This leads viewers to ask the question can women, who are sexual beings have the capability of being good people or would they be dammed to such degrading and shameful acts that the vamp