Since the creation of the Human Torch in 1939, the Marvel comic universe has been developing characters for children and adults to admire, envy and ultimately criticize. Captain Marvel made her film debut last month as a character of unmatched strength and power among heroes. Fans have since been discussing her potential to break the mold on female cinematic characters.
Marvel enthusiast Amelia Pape 22′ said that the movie was important because it offered positive role models to young girls. She saw little girls in the theatre with their parents, clutching Captain Marvel dolls. In Superhero films, “the majority of the women are kind of helpless because they don’t have super strength and they need to be saved. It’s kinda nice to be growing up now where the girl is the superhero,” says Pape.
Despite “Captain Marvel” being a role model for young girls, online fans seemed to be disappointed with her character. As noted in The Federalist, critics claimed she was portrayed as overly emotional and erratic. Film Minor Suzanne Rickard ’22 says that the character goes beyond the daily trials of being a woman. “It shouldn’t be that [because] a female is the lead that everything about her being a strong female is what makes the movie. No, she is just a person.”
Marc DiPaolo, author of “War, Politics and Superheroes”, thinks that fans will get to see Brie Larson develop more in future films. “I think what will happen going forward, in terms of a female role model, is we’ll get to see her be more righteous, more fully herself. And that will be a fun character to see,” says DiPaolo.
Pape understands that feminist fans could be disappointed if they did not also have an appreciation for the story line of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Obviously she’s promoting feminism as a female lead, but I don’t think that’s the purpose of the film – to be a movie about feminism. I think it’s just about introducing the character because they need her,” Pape says.
Rickard emphasized that films are not always meant to have political agendas, but an industry like Marvel must be mindful of its influence on viewers. “Despite having to spit out their structural Marvel films that lead to the following films after that, they also have the world’s eyes on them,” she said. “And I feel like this is one of those situations where they do have to be aware of what they’re saying.”
DiPaolo appreciates the introduction of the scrolls as “sympathetic refugee characters” as a nod to modern politics. “It made it a sly political protest without overdoing it,” he says.
The true question here is whether or not Marvel has a responsibility to make these kinds of statements with its comics or films because of its influence? DiPaolo says yes, because Marvel comics are the products of immigrants who fought fascism and who have “always taken a strong stance against prejudice.” He quickly added that the writers have not done so in the name of sexism, but that the ideals are there and he can see the improvements happening.
Rickard also sees these improvements and hopes that fans will become more accustomed to seeing strong female leads on the big screen. “Make it more common. So that in the future, every time a female lead exists, they won’t always focus on the fact that she’s female. Because that’s the future that film should have,” says Rickard.
American Movie Theatre Canton, N.Y., employee Kayla Shores she saw how impressed people were with the film and that only very rarely did customers seem disappointed. Shores recognized multiple people coming back to see the film more than once.
Pape is one of these happy customers, and said that she felt the impact of a female character being represented as a hero. “When Brie Larson is fighting off the scrolls and such, I feel powerful, like I could do that. I could kick some serious ass.”