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JC Jones Cat
MemberOvomorphAug-05-2012 1:18 AMRidley Scott does love female characters, especially strong female characters. I recently watched some of the special features of the Alien DVD and it got me thinking of a few symbolics. They mention that the character of Lambert was written to represent the audience's fear & the Ripley character was essentially meant to show where fear drives you (fight or flight); Ripley embodied that strength or survival/fighting instinct we have. For those reasons, they wanted the Lambert character (in the theatrical version) to be the last one to die in order to keep that fear aspect/symbolic 'til the end. And then we get to see what happens with the strong Ripley character, what happens through that fear and what it enables us to do. The end of the first Alien movie was intense and heart-pounding, and it was all about that primordial instinct to survive...we get to experience that through the character, like in any great film.
At the end of Prometheus when the ship crashes, Shaw and Vickers are the last two surviving characters (if we exclude the David head). We can imply that the Shaw character represents the kinder and more humane/emotional side, while Vickers symbolizes the colder, corporate and more power-driven aspects. We see how the corporate aspect loses when Vickers gets crushed (unless she's really a robot and survives somehow), and how the more humane/emotional side prevails when faced with danger or certain death. CORPORATION/BIG COMPANY VS. AN INDIVIDUAL/HEART/INSTINCT. Who wins? Perhaps this symbolic was a bit obvious for some, but I still find it interesting to see how Ridley Scott pushes certain symbolics through his female characters.
Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, but it still stood out for me near the end of the Prometheus film, and I thought the parallels were once again interesting, i.e. two female characters (who embody different aspects/symbolics) at the end of both films. Any thoughts fellow fans?
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6 Replies
pulserifle187
MemberOvomorphAug-05-2012 2:04 AMi think with female characters in these sorts of movies (action/horror), the audience feel more sympathy for the character. well thats just my theory ayway
"how do you feel?"-" great, next stupid question"
zzplural
MemberOvomorphAug-05-2012 2:11 AMWasn't [i]Alien[/i] fairly groundbreaking in that respect? (to put a woman in the lead role of an action/horror).
There are clear parallels between Ripley and Shaw that I'm sure were quite intentional.
The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile but that it is indifferent
PUNX
Art DirectorMemberOvomorphAug-05-2012 3:00 AM I loved the human reaction of Lambert in Alien... it followed with Hudson... and then Morse... and then Jervis (I really don't care thart name might be wrong as THAT film has no importance for me and very rarely gets watched:small rant over)... Finally Fifield.
Lambert's (a talented job by Veronica Cartright) reaction was a wonderful polar oppiste to Ripley's reaction (outwardly anyway) in Alien and a mirror for what the audience felt. After Lambert (all tears, red nose and snot. this reaction died down and was diluted and was almost reenstated by Fifeild (and his fear reaction covered by aggression to hide his panic).
I see massive parallells between Ripley and Shaw (David himself says "A strong survival instinct". Lead female, lead character... the story is shown through her eyes and reactions), But that audience mirror was seen little in Prometheus and only in a few scenes.
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Sky
MemberOvomorphAug-05-2012 12:40 PMRipley - high survival instinct. She hates company and is more interested in keeping crew alive.
Shaw - has her own agenda. All she needs is her answers. She has nothing to do with the company.
Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.
JC Jones Cat
MemberOvomorphAug-06-2012 4:42 PM@zzplural: Definitely groundbreaking (i.e. lead female character) when the first Alien movie came out; was kind of a precursor in many ways. They often mention this in articles, books and interviews.
The crew of the Nostromo was supposed to be all male originally. When they decided to make the lead a female (Ripley), they wanted the film to have at least one other female character to counterbalance Ripley's iron will, thus Lambert was created as an embodiment of the "fear" aspect for the film. They systematically wanted the two lead females to be opposites to one another in that respect.
Indy John
MemberOvomorphNov-19-2012 11:33 PMA poster has suggested that there is no connection between Shaw and Ripley.
Do we any indication that Ripley is not related to Shaw? I have not seen any but what about a family heritage oral tradfition Ripley that somehow connects with Shaw?
Yes I would like family members to hear of Aunt Shaw's adventures on LV-223. The kids would cry out for stories and Ripley to hear the fantastic adventures . This ignites a fire in Ripley to be a space traveller.
Be choicelessly aware as you move through life
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