Is the Star Wars poster sexist?

[Simply Sci-fi]

I received an earful yesterday from someone when the subject of "fantasy" art came up. The woman who reads (and writes her own) fiction based on kick-ass females, reckons that since women are as capable as men, any artwork or imagery of women being rescued, or shown as being in some way less capable than a man is "sexist". She mentioned the classic pose of a male "Conan" style warrior protecting a cowering female.

According to this person, the Hilderbrant Star Wars poster is sexist and is only slightly redeemed by Princess Leia holding a blaster.
While I'd agree that the Hilderbrant poster is not the best depiction of Princes Leia, I would not say that the poster or artwork in general that depicts women being saved or being less capable then men is sexist. Since "sword and sorcery" films, books, comics, etc are based around a medieval style society, women would be much less likely to be sword wielding warriors. To look at history, it's clear that women did not have anything approaching equal rights until fairly recently. Even in an alternative "fantasy" world, where women are treated equally there would be those would not be warriors and who are pretty much ordinary. Call me "sexist" if you like but an average woman might appreciate a burly man rescuing them from a tight spot, because he may be much more capable physically that she is to deal with it.

I also attempted to point out that a man who produces fantasy art of a strong man and weaker woman is not necessarily being sexist. Rescuing a beautiful woman from the clutches of danger is a pretty innocent fantasy isn't it? It does not mean that he is making a point about the place of women in general. Also, wouldn't some women have the fantasy of being rescued by a man? There are exceptional females who can tackle pretty much anything but in the overall scope of things, aren't men on the whole more capable of dealing with physical situations then women?

Now that there is so much in literature, films and television shows featuring exceptional women who can kick butt as well as men do, haven't we reached a level of equality? I would say that it would be going way too far to only produce artwork, films and television shows where women are as physically capable as men.

Women who disagree with this kind of thing seem to be in a difficult situation because women will always be the weaker sex physically. I'm fully behind "women's rights" and I'm all for equal pay, opportunities, conditions etc (although I'd make women tennis players play five sets if they are paid as much as the male players) but I don't agree that women should always be portrayed as the physical match for men, because I far as I see it, they're not.

Women have many attributes that men don't, which is why men and women can make such great partners. Women can be better/stronger than men in many ways that doesn't involve physicality.

What do you think? Did I deserve a tongue lashing for my "sexism"?

 

[_Lee_]

I think she was talking absolute bollocks mate

 

[theforceuk]

The whole origional triology is sexist by todays standards, only one main female caractor in all 3 films. :?

 

[Fishtalk]

Well, it was the Seventies Craig. Sexism was no big deal back then, it was the norm to depict females in that way - there are other depictions of Leia with enormous breasts. Was it sexist to dress Leia in the infamous slave outfit in Jedi?
I think the Hilderbrant poster is sexist, not least the way Leia kneels in front of Luke, but in the context of the time, was perfectly acceptable. The same way Racist and Sexist sitcoms were all the rage back then. It's unbelievable what we accepted as entertainment when you watch it today.

 

[tundra9]

The poster is quite misleading as well, because Leia was headstrong, smart and quite sarcastic in the movie, she handled herself well in all movies.
But then again, the poster does what it was meant to do, create the anticipation of an adventure out of this world.
Also, as a young boy, who didn't dream of saving a beautiful damsel in distress?

 

[x-pack]

Sex sells. Ask Carrie Fisher what she thinks. I'm sure she was really pissed off to be portrayed as a beautiful and sexy woman in the biggest movies of all time, and also to be amazingly famous and successful at the end of it :roll:

 

[grinchy]

apparently everythings sexist these days, i say bollox to that, its an age old story the damsel in distress, and variations on that theme, star wars is an adventure story the poster just reflects that, i never once thought anything else about it other than cool poster, sexist! bah humbug i say

 

[Simply Sci-fi]

I think the woman I spoke to was misremembering the Hilderbrant Star Wars poster to a degree and had a picture of Conan style artwork in her mind, where a woman is lying at the feet of a warrior. It seems like the Hilderbrants were seeking to produce the same style of image with their Star Wars poster. To match the Conan style, Princess Leia was sexed up and Luke was buffed up.

I don't really know what the Star Wars poster is meant to be portraying exactly. Luke is atop of a rocky outcrop, lofting his lightsabre as a signal, or perhaps as a challenge? Princess Leia is standing (or half standing, half kneeling) with her blaster drawn. Is she guarding Luke, or preparing to go into action? Perhaps the subject deserves its own thread.

In the wider subject of sexism in Star Wars and movies, TV, etc in general, if there is some kind of a war or conflict going on, it's men who are inevitably the main protagonists. Lucas drew much of his inspiration from old war films, where it's men who do all of the fighting. I expect that if Disney re-makes the Star Wars trilogy, there will be more women involved in the action. I hope that will not include making any of the main male cast members female! Imagine if one of the characters of another beloved sci-fi franchise, such as Battlestar Galactica was turned into a woman. Hold on, what did you say? Starbuck is what??

I can see how many would object and (quite rightly?) call it sexist but I hope that Princess Leia's metal bikini survives in a re-make of Return of the Jedi. Anyhow, how else would Leia avoid being thrown into the pit with the others? The situation seems to be "above board" for a family audience because being an alien slug, Jabba must want Leia as a trophy and nothing else. Leia does kill Jabba and escape all on her own, with some help from R2-D2.

There's no wrong or right in this issue, because each person has a different interpretation of how women should be portrayed. Personally I'm not greatly in favour of casting that bends over backwards to be politically correct (Star Wars Rebels?). Nor do I like efforts to shoehorn women into action scenarios. Jaws is a wonderful film about three men trapped on a boat hunting a big shark. The Magnificent Seven is a bunch of male gun slingers taking on male bandits. Midnight Run is about two men handcuffed together who are being chased by other men. Star Wars is about a bunch of male characters who team together to rescue a Princess. I hope that films like these will continue to be made and not red lighted because they don't include positive role models for women.

A great sci-fi "girl power" rock video, with a great payoff at the end. Women rock!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy6MpsDPKts

 

[x-pack]

Agreed. This is a classic fairytale story line and should not be censored. There are plenty of other movies where the female takes a strong lead role. It's not as though the ladies are left out in the film industry. Although it is true that men take a lot of leads and I would struggle to think up some leading ladies who aren't OTT hard nosed bitches, rom com lonely hearts or complete psychos.

If censorship should have been applied to anything within the Star Wars gamut it's the hideous sexual references in the prequels. That gladiatorial scene where Padme is astride a massive penis-like column (I think her and Anakin are chained to a massive penis at one point!), the vaginal imagery within the scenery. And that sickening lovey dovey chit chat in their room, clearly just before Anakin bones Padme and gets her up the duff. Not necessarily offensive but the most vomit inducing dialogue ever :roll: Cringe factor 10!


...and i'm bashing the prequels again. Just can't help it! :wink: