Private Vasquez: Difference between revisions
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| Image = [[Image:Aliens-Vasquez-300x200.png|150px]] | | Image = [[Image:Aliens-Vasquez-300x200.png|150px]] | ||
| Caption = Vasquez in a military pose. Note her serious, unsmiling expression. Women are often expected or told to smile; not smiling can be seen as unfeminine, or coding for butchness. | | Caption = Vasquez in a military pose. Note her serious, unsmiling expression. Women are often expected or told to smile; not smiling can be seen as unfeminine, or coding for butchness. | ||
}}'''Private Vasquez''' was a Latina Marine in the movie ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (played by actor Jenette Goldstein). Vasquez was killed on the colony LV-426 in battle with the aliens. | }} | ||
{{WOC}} | |||
'''Private Vasquez''' was a Latina Marine in the movie ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]'' (played by actor Jenette Goldstein). Vasquez was killed on the colony LV-426 in battle with the aliens. | |||
==Analysis== | ==Analysis== | ||
Unlike many women in film at that point, Vasquez was noticeably muscular. She also had one of the best lines in the film: | Unlike many women in film at that point, Vasquez was noticeably muscular. She also had one of the best lines in the film: | ||
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Here, the character confronts sexism with a sharp retort. It's clear from the comment made to her in this future, tough women in the marines can still occasion comment, although they are not necessarily a rarity. | Here, the character confronts sexism with a sharp retort. It's clear from the comment made to her in this future, tough women in the marines can still occasion comment, although they are not necessarily a rarity. | ||
Female characters who were visibly muscular and strong were a rarity in commercial US film releases at the time of "[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]" (1986); they were still rare enough five years later that Linda Hamilton's buff appearance in "[[Terminator 2]]" (1991) also excited notice. | Female characters who were visibly muscular and strong were a rarity in commercial US film releases at the time of "[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]" (1986); they were still rare enough five years later that Linda Hamilton's buff appearance as [[Sarah Connor]] in "[[Terminator 2]]" (1991) also excited notice. | ||
Vasquez is laudable in many ways: by including her, it is apparent that Sigourney Weaver's character [[Ellen Ripley]] isn't a one-off, the rare [[exceptionalism|exceptional woman]] among men. At the least, Vasquez' character suggests that touch, competent women aren't uncommon (although still not, perhaps, commonplace). | Vasquez is laudable in many ways: by including her, it is apparent that Sigourney Weaver's character [[Ellen Ripley]] isn't a one-off, the rare [[exceptionalism|exceptional woman]] among men. At the least, Vasquez' character suggests that touch, competent women aren't uncommon (although still not, perhaps, commonplace). | ||
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Coding her as physically strong or [[butch]] was at that time -- and twenty years later, still is -- also a rarity, and a welcome portrayal on the screen. | Coding her as physically strong or [[butch]] was at that time -- and twenty years later, still is -- also a rarity, and a welcome portrayal on the screen. | ||
[[Image:Aliens-Vasquez.jpg|left|Vasquez firing a weapon. Note (and admire) her arm musculature.]] | |||
[[Image:Aliens-Vasquez.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Vasquez firing a weapon. Note (and admire) her arm musculature.]] | |||
== Race and casting issues == | == Race and casting issues == | ||
The presence of a [[Latina characters|Latina character]] -- again, still, today, underrepresented -- was likewise welcome. | |||
However, while all these things are true, it is also true that there is some sort of disproportionate representation of kick-assery among women of color; as if it is safer (for white male creators) to confront the traditional images of femininity in a woman of color. This pattern can also be seen in the numerous representations of [[Black Warrior Woman|Black warrior women]], and it suggests that racist views of women of color -- particularly women of African descent -- affect the casting and characterization of female roles. Sigourney Weaver was butched up for this role, but not as significantly as Vasquez; as the only two adult human females in the episode, this strongly suggests some comparisons between the two. | However, while all these things are true, it is also true that there is some sort of disproportionate representation of kick-assery among women of color; as if it is safer (for white male creators) to confront the traditional images of femininity in a woman of color. This pattern can also be seen in the numerous representations of [[Black Warrior Woman|Black warrior women]], and it suggests that racist views of women of color -- particularly women of African descent -- affect the casting and characterization of female roles. Sigourney Weaver was butched up for this role, but not as significantly as Vasquez; as the only two adult human females in the episode, this strongly suggests some comparisons between the two. | ||
The casting also raises some questions. Historically in the US in [[separatist media|white media]], white actors were often cast as people of color, donning [[blackface]] or in other ways trying to code themselves as a person of color. These characterizations were often offensive, relying on the grossest stereotypes, both in make-up and dress and in acting choices. Casting white actors also fostered persistent racism in Hollywood and theatrical circles, leading to segregation in media production and distribution as well as consumption. In the 1980s and 1990s (and even today in the early 21st century) there was still significant discrimination against people of color in the film industry, and casting Jenette Goldstein to play Private Vasquez has to be considered in light of that history and economy as well. | The casting also raises some questions. Historically in the US in [[separatist media|white media]], white actors were often cast as people of color, donning [[blackface]] or in other ways trying to code themselves as a person of color. These characterizations were often offensive, relying on the grossest stereotypes, both in make-up and dress and in acting choices. Casting white actors also fostered persistent racism in Hollywood and theatrical circles, leading to segregation in media production and distribution as well as consumption. In the 1980s and 1990s (and even today in the early 21st century) there was still significant discrimination against people of color in the film industry, and casting Jenette Goldstein to play Private Vasquez has to be considered in light of that history and economy as well. | ||
[[Image:VasquezPlusBoys.jpg|175px|left|thumb|Vasquez with the men in her squadron]] | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 08:40, 20 June 2007
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Private Vasquez |
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Marine |
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from |
 Vasquez in a military pose. Note her serious, unsmiling expression. Women are often expected or told to smile; not smiling can be seen as unfeminine, or coding for butchness. |
| Encyclopedia of Female Characters |
|---|
| Issues in characterization: Identities, representation, stereotypes |
| Indexes of female characters: notable female characters ... |
| Comprehensive: A-G ...
H-P ...
Q-Z
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| Women of color in SF |
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Characters & works: |
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Writers & other people: |
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See also: |
| About the IWOCSF |
Private Vasquez was a Latina Marine in the movie Aliens (played by actor Jenette Goldstein). Vasquez was killed on the colony LV-426 in battle with the aliens.
Analysis
Unlike many women in film at that point, Vasquez was noticeably muscular. She also had one of the best lines in the film:
- Hudson: Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?
- Vasquez: No. Have you?
Here, the character confronts sexism with a sharp retort. It's clear from the comment made to her in this future, tough women in the marines can still occasion comment, although they are not necessarily a rarity.
Female characters who were visibly muscular and strong were a rarity in commercial US film releases at the time of "Aliens" (1986); they were still rare enough five years later that Linda Hamilton's buff appearance as Sarah Connor in "Terminator 2" (1991) also excited notice.
Vasquez is laudable in many ways: by including her, it is apparent that Sigourney Weaver's character Ellen Ripley isn't a one-off, the rare exceptional woman among men. At the least, Vasquez' character suggests that touch, competent women aren't uncommon (although still not, perhaps, commonplace).
Coding her as physically strong or butch was at that time -- and twenty years later, still is -- also a rarity, and a welcome portrayal on the screen.
Race and casting issues
The presence of a Latina character -- again, still, today, underrepresented -- was likewise welcome.
However, while all these things are true, it is also true that there is some sort of disproportionate representation of kick-assery among women of color; as if it is safer (for white male creators) to confront the traditional images of femininity in a woman of color. This pattern can also be seen in the numerous representations of Black warrior women, and it suggests that racist views of women of color -- particularly women of African descent -- affect the casting and characterization of female roles. Sigourney Weaver was butched up for this role, but not as significantly as Vasquez; as the only two adult human females in the episode, this strongly suggests some comparisons between the two.
The casting also raises some questions. Historically in the US in white media, white actors were often cast as people of color, donning blackface or in other ways trying to code themselves as a person of color. These characterizations were often offensive, relying on the grossest stereotypes, both in make-up and dress and in acting choices. Casting white actors also fostered persistent racism in Hollywood and theatrical circles, leading to segregation in media production and distribution as well as consumption. In the 1980s and 1990s (and even today in the early 21st century) there was still significant discrimination against people of color in the film industry, and casting Jenette Goldstein to play Private Vasquez has to be considered in light of that history and economy as well.
Further reading
- My New Plaid Pants entry in the 2007 Action Heroine Blog-a-Thon