Maternal Voice

In Kaja Silverman’s article, “The tri-faceted theory surrounding the application of the mother’s voice in mainstream cinema and cinematic theory.” The first part is the voice as a comforting and all encompassing warmth of a mother’s voice often employed in children’s films or coping mechanisms for adults having crisis yet beyond their years of experience. The second idea is the dystopian side of the discussion which reflects the castration anxiety and the fear of the female. Then there is the feminist version reflective of the hopes of various cinematic writers such as Laura Mulvey.

Which of these seems to be the most prevalent? In Alien the mother computer almost brings about Sigourney as Ripley’s death. Considering Ripley is a fairly masculinized presence, as she becomes increasingly more able with interactions with the aliens and slowly becomes an alien herself, does this work as an accurate representation of the castration facet? If so how, if not what would be an acceptable example of this facet? And of the other two? And in what ways are these three representations accomplished in said examples?