Brains over brawns

Liechtenstein
October 23, 2012 5:02am CST
What I commonly see in action films or maybe fantasy films (or whatever films that has fights/adventure/mystery in it) is that the character is a physically strong person. Be it a man (most often a man) or a woman (then idiots cry out it's unrealistic to have a physically strong woman when every thing in the movie is fantasy/does not exist). Most females probably might find it difficult to relate to an overly physically strong heroine anyway. (Not that most real guys are strong either) So why film makers didn't create a weak but smart character instead of a muscle bound hero that destroy everything. If a female character is weak but extremely smart, she can easily outsmart/defeat the bad guys more easily than a aggressive fighter that charge into bad guys and beat them up. Wouldn't that will be easier for females like us to relate to? I mean a man and a woman's intelligence are equal right? But not strength.
2 people like this
9 responses
@muininja (30)
• Tel Aviv, Israel
26 Oct 14
Personally I would relate more to a woman that uses her brain to fight the evil instead of strength. But to say that women can't be as strong as men? I don't think that this is right, it's just less common that woman would want huge muscular body therefor she is weaker while most guys put the big strong muscular body as a goal.
@Magz1989 (271)
• Philippines
24 Oct 12
That's a question on masculinity of man over the femininity of women though the word films sounds not real anyway. As the world sees a man should be strong to protect the women and the weak...and for the women to be intelligent both emotional and intellectual for the image of being a woman such caring , fragile and smart. Well, not to note that most scientist and well known philosophers are men. And according to politics...they would like a male politician because it can intellectually study the problems that female who decision are always supported with emotion...though if you watch Royal Successors and Royal Blood films...many males are brilliant and strong
@CarlHalling (3617)
• United Kingdom
23 Oct 12
Movie Star! - No, this is just a photo of crh taken some years ago now (and recently messed around with to look like a movie screen), not a movie star; I wished!
I think this is because action and fantasy films tend to be directed towards a certain audience, which is to say boys and very young men, who I think it's fair to say make up a fairly large percentage of the cinematic audience in general. I may be right in saying many perhaps most adolescent boys are drawn to highly masculin role models: I can recall when I was a boy I liked adventure movies featuring tough guy types. However, as I came towards the end of my teens, I grew out of this to some degree, and started admiring less overtly masculin types. In fact, my heroes became to a large degree Rock stars who were not classic he-men. Towards the end of my teens, I started admiring artists....writers, poets and so on, who were intellectual, and yet also unconventional. I wasn't totally typical; but then not wildly unsusual either. I think a good few young men become drawn to creative types as they get older, and are less drawn to brawny he-men. This is how I see it. Another important part of the cinematic audience is young women; many of them like romantic movies; and many of these are made. And the male heroes of such movies have often been more sensitive types of men; and if they are he-men, then they are he-men who can be soft, gentle and romantic. Women form a large part of the cinematic audience I'd say; and the types of male heroes favoured by this branch are men who can be both strong and gentle I'd say. But the uncompromising tough guys still exist; and perhaps always shall, because young guys like them: adolescence is a time of uncertainty for males (as for females); and therefore it may be that Grade "A" he-men are reassuring to them? While older guys and women alike are not so keen on them perhaps.
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
23 Oct 12
always the later half will, prevail just because if power is there ,world will come to an end,so its always brains and intellectual things
• China
24 Oct 12
Movie is a movie,those things in movie even will never occur in our society,so actually you just take those movies as for fun,I think that is enough.As for your question,because usually the image of hero in people's mind is physically strong person,so that is why almost every movie are the same for the hero role,one of the function of movie is to fit the imagine of human beings.
• Howrah, India
23 Oct 12
Films are for our entertainment,the film directors shown the hero as strong physique character as in real life women like this kind of character.As well as they shown the heroine as a smart,good figure,sexy character as in real life men desire such sexy & smart girls in their life...
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
23 Oct 12
I think most of those movie are representing what a man should be like a protector and provider , it doesn't really mean they have to be muscular but the determination to protect the ones they love and ability to lead . For woman being smart , I think they compliment the man short coming , brain and brawns go well together . Having brain and no common sense is useless . Having muscle and no brain is also kinda useless in coming up with plan but you can defend yourself in physical combat . Well that's what I think ,,, we need each other , as we were made to complete each other
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
23 Oct 12
To many a "real" man means: muscles = testosteron = healty. Testosteron makes agressive as well. That is also in many cultures still the reason men are not allowed to be weak, to cry, to show their feelings etc. (although women worldwide in all kind of cultures complain about their partners not showing their feelings). A strong woman is seen as male = testosteron = not attractive = not female enough (so therefor peole prefere the stupid blond about the intelligent dark haired women. Althoug nobody for real likes a stupid wife since this is mostly annoying and shamefull as well). A film is seldom realistic so you have to keep that in mind. But it is for sure that it does manipulate the brains in the wrong way, about what is right or wrong or realistic. Brains have nothing to do with it. There are plenty of stupid men far of intelligent. But the difference is they allow themselves to believe they are the most intelligent hot shot on this earth!
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
23 Oct 12
And steroids make them look big like that. But inside they arent much. Have a great day there. See you here soon.