Stereotypes of Sci-Fi

Science fiction is a genre that is seen as one that pushes boundaries. Whether it be gender boundaries or standard human ones, there is guaranteed to be some sort of futuristic novel and or movie that covers it. Despite this seemingly progressive form of entertainment, it is itself not without stereotypes that are used commonly as characters in their stories.

One such stereotype is one that seems to almost transcend all genres. The stereotype of the burly, angry, strongman that’s just unstoppable. This role is almost iconic in movies, but give the man a space gun, and you have your standard shoot um up sci-fi good guy. Examples range from many things, whether it be Dwayne Johnson acting in the movie Doom, or the Doomguy who is demon killing man on mars who will stop at nothing to exterminate the menace from the face of the universe. Master Chief, a super solider who is Earths’ strongest form of defense against a fanatical alien group known as the Covenant. He is from the Halo series. These characters can take a beating, give one out that’s two times as strong and are generally one of the only characters to survive.

A different type of stereotype, would be the opposing male villain. Strong, cold, calculating, and always looking down on you. These characters pose the main threat to the cast yet they are defeated in the end. The names included in this stereotype are the following. The legendary Darth Vader with the power of the force, a saber made from plasma, and robot enhancements and armor to boot. He is from the Star Wars series. Khan, a calculating being from a race of seeming super humans. He stronger, faster, and smarter than the humanoid races from the Star Trek series. Lastly the Terminator, a robotic menace sent back in time to murder the last hope of mankind and future leader of the insurrection against the machines. He is from the self titled Terminator series.

Despite these stereotypes being overused and common place, I still find them very enjoyable. The generic tough guy badass protagonist is always a simple but good character to root for. Their goal is easy to understand and it is more often than not against an overwhelming evil. My favorite stereotype though, would be the male villain. Their designs are intriguing. Look at Darth Vader, suited in the best mechanical armor that is not only defensive, but gives a technological advantage. Or Khan with his superiority in the Movies that make him a cold and terrifying opponent. These villains are able to chill audience members and give a worthy adversary for the protagonist to face off in the climax. All this together and so much more combine to make this genre one of favorites, combining simple character ideas with intricate technology make for a simply enjoyable experience.