Cynthia A. Freeland is an essay which analyzes the representation of women in Horror films. Unlike other feminists Freeland believes Ripley’s role is of “a maternal role” therefore reinforcing the gender constructions of women, whereas other critics have concluded she’s a pioneer for the representation of women in Horror. Freeland also explores other reactions from feminists in her essay, e.g. “For Kristeva, horror is fundamentally about boundaries-about the threat of transgressing then, and about the need to do so. Hence she emphasizes the duality of our attraction/repulsion to the horrific”. This ideology relates to “The Final Girl” as Ripley is masculine, strong and intelligent, which could come across unattractive to some male viewers however the fact that Ridley Scott makes a scene of her undressing, crosses the boundary of what a women must do in Horror to appeal to the male viewers even if they aren't the conventional female.
Creed also offers an explanation to why the final scenes of Alien show Ripley getting changed. She believes it illustrates the idea to the audience that “Ripley’s body is pleasurable and reassuring to look at” as “she signifies the “acceptable” form and shape of a woman”.
I agree with Creed and Kristeva’s responses to the
representation of Ripley, as they both reinforce the idea that women in Horror
will not have value in the eyes of the male viewer (which people argue is the
main viewer), if they don’t take off their clothes and become sexualised for
the heterosexual male.
Reference : http://uffilmanalysis.pbworks.com/f/Freeland742-763.pdf
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