Week Five Writing Assignment

Archetypes of Women

One prevalent archetype of women in the science fiction and horror genre that not changed drastically is the "damsel in distress" since the beginning of cinema. It could be said that this stereotype peaked in the 1950's. Even as early as the silent version of Phantom of the Opera (1925) and classic Universal monster films such as, The Wolf Man (1941) and The Mummy (1932); women were fainting and being carried off by the monster or ghoul. In the post World War II era of pinups, swimsuits, Marilyn Monroe and an awakening sexuality in America as exemplified by the first publication of Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine, women in science fiction and horror added "sex appeal" to the movies and reason for excited teenagers to flock to the drive-in. What teenage boy would not race out to see a curvaceous brunette in a swmsuit being carried off by the Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954). The poster alone for Attack of the 50 Ft Woman (1958) is an iconic image still to this day.

Yet for all the sex objects from films such as, Attack of Giant Leeches (1959) and The Astonishing She Monster (1957), there was a new breed of heroines emerging in the world of science fiction cinema. Female characters were being written as intelligent, strong willed counterparts to their male leads. Patricia Neal is the heart of the classic The Day The Earth Stood Still. A single mom, she is the one who tries to understand and accept the alien visitor, Klaatu. Women were still currently fainting and being carried off by the monster or alien, but now they were also being written as level headed voices of reason who stood up to their male co-stars with sass and witty comebacks. They were no longer passive. Now they were even scientists, participating in the fight against the looming terrors, such as in Howard Hawk's, The Thing. It was not until the 1970's (post women's rights movement) that you would see a female lead such as Jamie Lee Curtis in, Halloween or the female lead in George Romero's, Dawn of the Dead. As a strong independent character.