Connections between early American Literature and Weird Science

At first glance, Early-American literature and Sci-fi movie Weird Science by John Hughes appear incomparable. American 17^th and 18^th century literature centralizes on the early beginnings of American society while Hughes’s lighthearted film focuses on Gary and Wyatt’s experience with their computer-engineered “perfect woman.” The audiences, time periods and overall intention of the two works drastically differ. Many of the underlying principles, opinions, and content of American writers such as John Winthrop, Benjamin Franklin and John Crevècoeur, however, are analogous to those of Weird Science. Both Early-American literature and Weird Science are parallel to each other with respect to their content’s emphasis on rebellion against tyrannical and hindering forces. Both new Americans and Gary and Wyatt struggle to deal with controlling and repressing forces. 
Oppression is ubiquitous among Early-American literature. Crevècoeur describes America as sensational and completely revolutionary from British society because no “dominion” or “princes, for whom we toil starve, and bleed” exist (37). Thus, Americans have finally escaped from “domains ruled by exploitative aristocrats and kings” (Taylor 42). Comparably, Benjamin Franklin was indentured to his older brother who repressed his freedom of speech by refusing to publish his articles. Franklin’s childhood exposure of “subordination to a master” demonstrates a prevalent theme of repression in colonial society (Mintz 33). As Mintz states, due to patriarchal figures and dominating forces in Franklin’s time “words like liberty and tyranny [had] a visceral meaning for many colonists (33).  Similarities of authoritative influence can be seen in Weird Science as Wyatt’s older brother, Chet, completely controls him. As Lisa, the “perfect woman”, speaks to Chet about his relationship with Wyatt she declares, “You’ve nagged him, harassed him…suppressed him, extorted money from him” (Hughes). Chet’s constant need to manifest his superiority over Wyatt demonstrates the oppressive environment Wyatt has had to endure throughout his lifetime. This resembles the dynamic between American colonists and Britain, as well as Benjamin Franklin and his relationship with his brother.