Comment on the depiction of MEN in ‘Alien’?
The 18th century saw the birth of the Gothic genre, a movement in literature which explored and challenged fears and anxieties within the context. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller in ‘Alien’ seeks to create a similar impact, released into a period of social and political upheaval it has strong pro-feministic views which were incoherent with social and political norms of the period. Scott’s utilisations of traditional gothic conventions like a “metonym of gloom and horror” and “women in distress” are exacerbated through the implementation of cinematic techniques, resulting in men being depicted as weak and dysfunctional. The film is centred on the role of women in society and the increasing fear of technology, …show more content…
The composer has utilised a medium close up shot of Lambert’s head while Kane, Dallas and Ash are blurred out in the background. This scene is able to juxtapose Lambert’s anxious demeanour with Kane’s positive and confident attitude as the audience hear him say “I volunteer first”, which reinforces the bravery and resilience of men. While the composer has positioned Lambert in one of the key points in the mise-en-scene, allowing the audience to witness the look of terror on Lambert’s face when Dallas requests her to join the landing party. However the twist of events, results in Kane being penetrated and impregnated by the Alien life-form, thus assuming a maternal role. This was incoherent with the social and political norms and is reflective of the anxiety of men within the context as a result of the establishment of abortion and the rise in Feminism. The close-up shot of Kane’s face during the birth portrays men as powerless and terrified, with all traces of the previous bravery and confidence …show more content…
This is evident from early on in the film, where Parker is shown saying “everybody else gets more than us”, revealing that even the women on the ship were being paid more this reflects the changing values of equality within the social context. However it is Ash, who is a representative of the patriarchal company, who encapsulates the greed and self-benefit within men. In an attempt to save the Alien for the company, Ash confronts Ripley. This confrontation is representative of a clash between feminism and the patriarchal paradigms which were still prominent within the context, the composer utilises a Worm’s eye angle shot to reveal Ash’s dominance over Ripley as he shoves a rolled up magazine into Ripley’s mouth in a symbolic act of oral rape. However this act to restore the patriarchy fails, with the revelation that Ash is an android. This revelation is utilised by Scott to express the unpredictable nature of technology. It also provokes the issues associated with the Cold War and the Weapons of mass destruction. But most importantly it depicts Men as anxious, fearful and unable to adapt to the changing societal
The 18th century saw the birth of the Gothic genre, a movement in literature which explored and challenged fears and anxieties within the context. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller in ‘Alien’ seeks to create a similar impact, released into a period of social and political upheaval it has strong pro-feministic views which were incoherent with social and political norms of the period. Scott’s utilisations of traditional gothic conventions like a “metonym of gloom and horror” and “women in distress” are exacerbated through the implementation of cinematic techniques, resulting in men being depicted as weak and dysfunctional. The film is centred on the role of women in society and the increasing fear of technology, …show more content…
The composer has utilised a medium close up shot of Lambert’s head while Kane, Dallas and Ash are blurred out in the background. This scene is able to juxtapose Lambert’s anxious demeanour with Kane’s positive and confident attitude as the audience hear him say “I volunteer first”, which reinforces the bravery and resilience of men. While the composer has positioned Lambert in one of the key points in the mise-en-scene, allowing the audience to witness the look of terror on Lambert’s face when Dallas requests her to join the landing party. However the twist of events, results in Kane being penetrated and impregnated by the Alien life-form, thus assuming a maternal role. This was incoherent with the social and political norms and is reflective of the anxiety of men within the context as a result of the establishment of abortion and the rise in Feminism. The close-up shot of Kane’s face during the birth portrays men as powerless and terrified, with all traces of the previous bravery and confidence …show more content…
This is evident from early on in the film, where Parker is shown saying “everybody else gets more than us”, revealing that even the women on the ship were being paid more this reflects the changing values of equality within the social context. However it is Ash, who is a representative of the patriarchal company, who encapsulates the greed and self-benefit within men. In an attempt to save the Alien for the company, Ash confronts Ripley. This confrontation is representative of a clash between feminism and the patriarchal paradigms which were still prominent within the context, the composer utilises a Worm’s eye angle shot to reveal Ash’s dominance over Ripley as he shoves a rolled up magazine into Ripley’s mouth in a symbolic act of oral rape. However this act to restore the patriarchy fails, with the revelation that Ash is an android. This revelation is utilised by Scott to express the unpredictable nature of technology. It also provokes the issues associated with the Cold War and the Weapons of mass destruction. But most importantly it depicts Men as anxious, fearful and unable to adapt to the changing societal