Gender Representations in the Superhero Genre

Women as main characters

A question usually asked is why aren't there any good superhero films with a female character as the lead although their supporting character roles are continually improving? Looking back at older films such as Aeon Flux or Cat woman; they are critically panned as being bad.

The coined term by Laura Mulvey Male Gaze. May have something to do with this.

Onwards to Why.

As a note, they also are mainly Anti-Heroes in their own movies. There are no Captain America's here.

Why?

A common theme is that Film-makers primarily choose to focus on a super heroines looks and attractiveness to draw in male audiences. As far as I am aware there have been zero super heroines that are not seen as un-attractive. So although the characters can use their looks and exploiting stereotypes for an advantage to get places, basing an entire film around this trope turns the characters from being relatable, to being objectively viewed.

So more attention in the writing, acting and the way the audience views the film is about how the super heroine looks and what she's wearing rather than her intelligence or other more heroic traits.

To be the honest the chances of Barb Wire not being a film focussing on the attractiveness of the female lead were pretty low.

Supporting Characters

This is where there is definitely more diversity in character traits for both men or women as they aren't entirely focussed on. I've touched on the more common supportive roles in the superhero genre back in my post on conventions. The upcoming two aspects of a supportive role of women are just two of the more noticeable supporting characters within these films. Both the good and the bad

Women as supporting characters

This is a phrase I made up; but that is because this character personifies this type of female supporting character. She is a Love Interest of Peter Parker

Always gets captured in all 3 films

Although she makes independent decisions that conflict with the hero, they are ultimately wrong. Now to be honest, this type of characterisation has definitely toned back over the last few years in superhero films and was actually not all that common before the 21st century as well Point is, this is not a very good type of female supporting character to aim for.

Mary Janes

As a note: In the comics and animated TV shows Mary Jane is much more than a Mary-Jane nowadays

Women as supporting characters

Well Rounded

This is pretty much the aim of all good female supporting characters. To be known for themselves rather than to be known for the way the hero interacts with them. This applies to men as well. Great supporting characters is what can really elevate a film.

These types of characters are shown as capable and able to get themselves out of situations.

Are more of a noticable aid to the Main heroes rather than being a burden.

Change in Male main characters in Action Films

Back in the 80s, prior to advacements in editing technolgy stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Slyvester Stallone made more of an impact due to their psysique being able to back up the more outlandish stunts they were doing.

How ever as time moved on and technology improved, so it was believable for an average person to do more heroic acts, wish was the draw for Die Hard This is important as superheroes are usually just ordinary people who have been given powers. It was also past the mid 90s when there was a faster rise in the amount of superhero films being realeased.

Applying this to superhero genre

Superheroes are meant to be , an average person who is unique in a certain way. So with the rise of average looking action heroes came the rise of superheroes.

The way males are represented are usually confident and aren't shown to be weak, especially once they've obtained their power, maybe prior to it.

Male Supporting Character

This is quite short, but the male supporting characters within superfilms films can range from being cowardly to being strong and useful. They can even overshadow the hero, if the are acted well. For example, Captain Jack Sparrow pushed himself from a supporting role to a main character role through acting alone. There is definitely more choice for male supporting characters especially as they can appear as less attractive (physically and emotionally) on films more than their female counter-parts

Conclusion

For Women:

If I were to include them in my opening I'd probably want to establish the type of character she is going to be throughout the film. Though to be honest I'd probably go for the more well rounded archetypes of female characters as it makes them more memorable (for the right reasons) in the long run.

For Males:

Though my character can be more flawed, if he is the main character it is probably wise for there to be are improvement of himself throughout the film to a point of being more heroic, like in Kick-ass, where the development of the character ended on a high.