Does Majority Rule?

To say the least, the readings and movie for this week are thought provoking. Butler’s Bloodchild turns gender roles of our culture on its heels as the majoritarian culture is dominated by some kind of mammoth slithering serpent. The short story I Live With You by Carol Elmschwiller creates a surreal world where things happen in a real way. The film Brother from Another Planet gives us a glimpse of a black three toed alien trying to fit into Harlem’s society on Earth. Majoritarian values and perspectives are turned upside down with these three works.

The male bearing children in a matriarchal society in Bloodchild gives us a reversal of the male/female roles as it exists in our society. As humans attempt to escape slavery on Earth, they enter into a different bondage as they are forced to live in Preserves. The human male is chosen by the female and forced to be the host for the embryo of the child. Butler tops this off by creating two species on the planet with the governing majority a slithering body with four pair of legs. The ten foot female serpent creature has the dominant role of seducing the male and cutting open their host to deliver their babies. Nevertheless, the relationship between the Gan and Gatoi seems to be one of love and respect as seen when Gatoi gives Gan a choice to continue to bear her children.

            Creepy and eerie come to mind after reading I Live With You. It is reminiscent of those little people that live in your house that take the errant sock like the Hobbit or house elves in Harry Potter. You know they are there, but cannot make yourself accept it. It is like Nietzsche’s alternate universe within a universe or eternal reoccurrence. The role of the majority is taken on by the ghostlike creature invading her house or is it an alter ego (“just like you”) that wishes to stretch the woman beyond her world into the real world of the living. The absurdity of the succubus creating chaos allows a lonely woman to find friendship. Despite the weird person in the attic, it does not stray far from majority values and perspective of the human condition that demands a social interaction.

            Brother from Another Planet grabbed my interest from its campy spacecraft entry on the screen. Despite the alien nature, the majoritarian culture’s values are dominant as our mute hero attempts to make his place in a society that is totally foreign. The film opens on Ellis Island as the immigrant alien lands on Earth, an “in your face” reference to past immigration. His introduction into society is not much different than those from foreign lands that do not “speak the language”. There are some preconceived notions introduced early on about space and aliens softened with comparisons to alcoholics and video game addicts. The Brother is mute with three toes but he still fits in because he attempts to help people with his innate powers. He may be different but his kindness is evident.  He gets more adversity because of his color than the fact that he has disabilities and is an alien. The message sent is one of discrimination on what the majority sees as the major threat.

              There are times that we as an individual think we are screaming but nothing is heard. The works of this week confirm that there is a vehicle for everyone to voice their opinions.  Whether an individual is an alien from outer space or another country, each has a talent that deserves acceptance before fear.