Historical text

Alien-(1979)

This film was one of the first action films to have a female protagonist; this reflected the zeitgeist of the text. Even though the setting was in the future, the ideologies presented, reflected the “spirit of the age”. During the late 70’s second wave feminism was on the rise, this meant women were beginning to gain control, this is represented in ‘Alien’, as ‘Ripley’, played by Sigourney Weaver, thrives to express her opinions, and gain control. In the end of the movie she does, as she is the one who is alive, and the only one who succeeded in killing the alien. Through the ending she is presented to be an empowered role model, which shows the change in the society during that period of time.

In many ways Ripley is the same as ‘Fox’ in wanted, as the are presented as hero’s, even though Fox dies in the end, her death could symbolise she’s a hero as she gave her life for Wesley. However in ‘Alien’ there are some scenes were women are shown to be inferior, an example is when in the beginning Ripley wants “o out after them”, (the ones who needed help), Ash, who is a man, replies “there’s no point!” The fact he tells her and doesn’t suggest it connotes men have control over women. However this is to an extent as in the end she wins, showing women are becoming more powerful in society and Action films. During the 1970’s it was very rare to find female lead characters, this changed after “Alien” as directors saw how successful it was having a women as the protagonist and began using females more often. This shows how the audience reacted positively towards seeing an empowered female on screen.