They make women matter in the universe. Women are no longer held back and the universe for sure became more diverse since the defeat of the Empire. Women have top tier positions and a woman becomes the greatest force user in the history of the universe
shareStar Wars was never meant to have “strong female characters.” It’s a fairytale. And it’s based on Greek Myths that revolved around male heroes like Achilles and Heracles.
shareThat ignores Leia (Star Wars was clearly meant to have strong female characters), and Athena, Hera, Artemis, Psyche, and Penelope - who uses her wit and cunning to stave off the unwanted suitors. Not to mention the Amazons...
There are actually dozens of strong female characters in fairy tales throughout the ages. Gretel is just as, if not more, resourceful than Hansel, for instance. The Little Mermaid (in the original) is strong enough to sacrifice her happiness for the happiness of others, and then goes on to obtain enlightenment through her fortitude and perseverance.
While knightly heroes outnumber damsels, I don't agree that fairy stories have no strong female characters nor do I agree that properties based on or inspired by fairy stories inherently have no room for strong female characters "by design".
Star Wars is a boy’s tale. It’s about male swashbucklers, not female ones. Women staving off suitors is not the same as going on a hero’s journey.
shareIt's the hero's journey. It's a universal myth for everybody.
The original Star Wars was about Luke. The new ones are about Rey (well...I might actually argue Kylo).
Yes universal. It can be enjoyed by anyone. That doesn’t mean it has to be about Everyone. The Monomyth is about masculine archetypes. Not transgender, black, disabled midgets.
shareThe monomyth is about a hero's journey, it's not restricted to what type of hero. It applies to Luke Skywalker, but it also works for Jesus Christ (not white), or Willow (midget), or any number of people.
Heck, if you're talking about what Star Wars is based on, it also borrowed heavily from Kurosawa, so why isn't Luke Japanese?
To say that a sci-fi film, an action film, a fantasy story, a fairy tale, or the UNIVERSAL monomyth theories of Joseph Campbell are about masculine archetypes, or exclusionary in any way, is baffling to me.
What about Ripley?
Wonder Woman?
“ UNIVERSAL monomyth theories of Joseph Campbell are about masculine archetypes”
And yet all the examples you gave and in text books are male. Hmm, seeing a pattern.
“What about Ripley?”
Ellen Ripley is gender neutral. There is nothing especially feminine about her character.
“ Wonder Woman?”
The Amazons were most likely men that were mistaken for women.
I gave examples, which you're discounting on technicalities.
Well, alright, Ripley was written neutral and cast female (there's nothing inherently masculine there, either).
I'm not up on my historical Amazons, but assuming that's true, it's not really relevant to the female character of Wonder Woman as an example.
But, okay...
Dorothy Gale (Wizard of Oz as an example is in tonnes of textbooks), Mulan, Ariel, Belle, Sarah Connor, Scarlett O'Hara, Elizabeth Bennet, Jackie Brown, Katniss, Selene (Underworld), Hanna, The Bride, Eliza (Shape of Water), Marge Gunderson, Clarice Starling, and Elizabeth from the Paper Bag Princess.
Rey is the best female character outside Of Leia also these films are better than The Prequels and Rival The Originals #IhaveSpoken
shareKylo Ren is the most powerful female character in the movie.
share