Speculative Fiction Brings a Fresh Perspective on the Patriarchy
By Elke Simmons
What would the world look like if women had absolute power over society? What would it be like to live under a matriarchy instead of the toxic masculinity of the patriarchy? Enter the speculative fiction film series The Power.
In real life, societies worldwide teach teenage girls to be highly sexualized, marginalized, and to objectify themselves. Many cultures reinforce these dangerous perspectives, so experts have hailed The Power as a vital commentary on how society and culture could eliminate these harmful societal conventions.
The premise of The Power is a sudden power exchange between teenage girls and everyone else all over the modern world when human evolution grants teenage girls the hereditary ability to electrocute other people and things at will and, in turn, to grant the ability to grown women.
The veritable new Prime Video series, The Power, was directed by Ugla Hauksdóttir, Lisa Gunning, Neasa Hardiman, Logan Kibens, and Shannon Murphy, each having run at least two episodes. The Power heads an all-star cast, including Toni Collette and John Leguizamo. Episodes will transport fans to a world where girls rule. The Power, including several episodes adapted for the television series by the author Naomi Alderman herself, was from the book by the same name.
The most captivating question suggested by the series remains: What would the world look like if we were to teach girls to act in a way that doesn’t objectify them, see them through a patriarchal lens, and act in a manner that is healthy for them?
That Girl has an Electrifying Personality
The misogynistic attitudes embedded in societies worldwide are well-documented phenomena. This is relevant to Alderman’s brilliant ode to women in The Power.
What’s great about the content of The Power is not just the necessity to analyze the issues by way of the series but the necessity of equity, not just power. The story is very clear about the outcomes if the balance of power is too much for either gender.
This clarity doesn’t mean the series is all globally united humanity, peace, and love. There is a look at the dystopia in The Power, as well. As with any gender, power can corrupt. Humans cannot usually handle so much power. The problem is exacerbated by the immaturity of the teenagers gifted with this power and their search for revenge after lacking power for so long.
A Feminist Heart & An Atwood Soul
This speculative fiction series is based on the award-winning novel published in 2016 and written by Naomi Alderman. The New York Times listed the book as one of the 10 Best Books of 2017, and was awarded Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction and The Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2017. The Power is often considered a top speculative fiction novel, along with Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.
This is British author Naomi Alderman’s best-known novel. It was inspired by and dedicated to Canadian author Margaret Atwood. In 2012, Margaret Atwood selected Alderman to participate in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Atwood and Alderman co-wrote a self-published work, “The Happy Zombie Sunrise Home.”
Alderman, born in London, England, attended Oxford and the University of East Anglia. She is now a Professor of Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Catch The Power, the new seven episode series premiering on Prime Video on March 31st 2023.
The Power (2023) Official Prime Video Trailer
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Author
| Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News. |
