The Evolution of Villains

When you hear the word "villain," what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Maybe it's The Joker from Batman or those monsters who always used to challenge The Mystery gang on Scooby-Doo? Whatever the case, there's a reason that the producer put that character as the villain. Producers of movies and television shows use characters that truly enhance a viewers perception and emotional response. If you've ever watched old films, the bad guys in those productions don't look the same as the ones in the films today-that's because the fears of that time are not the same as they are now.

The 1920's & 1930's: 

In movies of the 1920's, the villain was usually in the form of a gangster. When thinking about the crimes being committed during that time, it make complete sense. Take Al Capone for example- a major criminal in Chicago who was known to be a bootlegger, gambler, assassin and involved with prostitution (aka: a gangster). Capone was always dressed nicely, which is how many of the villains in movies were dressed as well. 

The 1960's & 1970's:

       

A lot happened in these three decades. Between war, civil rights, and science, it gave movie producers a lot to work with. The villain in these movies and television shows had many identities, but I found some patterns that are notable. In movies such as Star Wars, there was a character who acted as a ruler of all (Darth Vader)-this type of personality is comparable to rulers like Adolf Hitler (Communist ruler of WWII) and Ho Chi Minh (Communist leader during the Vietnam War)-both of which were relevant to this time period. Another interesting thing I noticed was that the hero was usually depicted as an American, or with American colors--like Superman. The reason behind that is pretty obvious-Americans were the heroes (especially if the show was American made). The last thing from this era that seemed to catch my eye was that women were suddenly allowed to play the role of the bad guy. Take Bonnie and Clyde for example, both the man and woman were criminals. Since more and more women were getting jobs and becoming independent individuals, it gave them a new role in the world. Movie producers caught on and decided that they were powerful enough be the bad guy too. 

The 1990's - Present:

 

The 1990's may have had a little spillover from the previous category, but there was a shift in the villain between the 90's and now. The tragedies of 9/11 and the Iraqi war have initiated this change towards a villain with the qualities of a Muslim. In fact, there is a new show called State of Affairs that actually centers its investigations over people who are dressed in the traditional-Muslim clothing and that are from countries of the Middle East. If you're like me and have watched State of Affairs, it definitely leaves a guy on edge! These last two decades have also introduced the "normal" looking villain. The villain that looks like every other person on the street. With the new advances in technology, people can easily commit crimes online and through their gadgets-giving them the ability to look like any other person walking the street. The movie and television industries have caught on and are now making their villains look "normal."  The movie The Stepfather, ( a movie about a man who fools everybody into believing that he's this wonderful guy and eventually tries murdering his new family) is an example of the "normal" villain. 

Do you have a favorite villain? Tell me about it!