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Will younger generations grow up thinking that females are the gender associated with combat and action?

posted 3 years ago by whynotwriteme (7817)
75 replies | jump to latest

As kids, we get a lot of our world-view from movies and TV. I, for example, grew up in the 70s and 80s watching male action heroes like Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone.

Now that most action movies feature slender, attractive women doing all the fighting and adventuring and defeating large male goons, will future generations consider that image of the gun-toting fashion model as the archetypal action character?

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

Hopefully alongside media, they'll also receive some education in history and therefore won't have a strongly gendered view of combat and action. You know, because, as Kameron Hurley put in 2013: "Women have always fought...Shaka Zulu had an all-female force of fighters. Women have been part of every resistance movement. Women dressed as men and went to war, went to sea, and participated actively in combat for as long as there have been people."

But even more than that, I hope they don't hold a romanticized view of combat and action however it relates to their gender. Because it seems like combat and action movies are still just propaganda for enlistment, and I don't think anyone should go into battle thinking it's heroic or glamorous - but anti war movies like Full Metal Jacket will likely keep being made.

Also, what movies are you talking about? Because, from my perspective, most recent action films are still dominated by male characters, even ones like The Suicide Squad and Mulan, where a female is the lead.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Probably The 355.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

One movie huh? Also, I hadn't even heard of it, but it looks not bad.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

Idk about the OP, but that movie comes up to my mind.

Oh, it's terrible. Which is a shame, because I really liked the concept... a group of women that are special agents / James Bond-type spies tackling evil villains. That's why I gave it a try eventhough I knew the rating was low.

Too bad they made it so boring. The action scenes were actually competently made. It's just so fucking boring. It offers nothing new. Super annoying, because it has so much potentials. I'd rate it as bad as RED 2 (2013). They have the same problem.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

Oh, damn, that's a shame. It looks like it would be a lot of fun. Had a look at the director - Simon Kinberg (also a co-writer for The 355) - he's done barely any directorial work and, of the little he's directed, it doesn't seem like he's good at it.

Seems to be a pattern with the few female-led action movies that have come out in recent years - typically a male director with very little experience, who's only really produced subpar films, works on these movies (Kate, Gunpowder Milkshake, The 355), and when the movies tank, people always blame the female cast.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 3 years ago

I don't blame the female cast. However, casting Jessica Chastain might not be a good decission on their part considering her last spy action movie, Ava, was also terrible just two years before. It was even worse, I couldn't finish it.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 3 years ago

True, but they do this with actors all the time, regardless of gender, because they are still bankable.

[–] 123Guy (7841) 3 years ago

I really doubt it.

Then again, they're getting pretty fucking stupid, so I guess it's possible.