Science fiction film

Science fiction has been a film genre since the earliest days of cinema. Science fiction films have explored a great range of subjects and themes, including many that can not be readily presented in other genre. Science fiction films have been used to explore sensitive social and political issues, while often providing an entertaining story for the more casual viewer. Today, science fiction films are in the forefront of new special effects technology, and the audience has become accustomed to displays of realistic alien life forms, spectacular space battles, energy weapons, faster than light travel, and distant worlds.

Definition

Defining precisely which movies belongs to the science fiction genre can be as difficult with films as it is with literature.

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:Science fiction film is "a film genre which emphasizes actual, extrapolative, or speculative science and the empirical method, interacting in a social context with the lesser emphasized, but still present, transcendentalism of magic and religion, in an attempt to reconcile man with the unknown" (Sobchack 63).

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Film - Film genre - Science - Empirical method - Transcendentalism - Magic - Religion

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This definition assumes that a continuum exists between (real-world) empiricism and (supernatural) transcendentalism, with science fiction film on the side of empiricism and horror film and fantasy film on the side of transcendentalism. However, there are numerous well-known examples of science fiction horror films, epitomized by Frankenstein and Alien.

Related Topics:
Supernatural - Horror film - Fantasy film - Frankenstein - Alien

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The visual style of science fiction film can be characterized by a clash between alien and familiar images. This clash is implemented in the following ways:

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• Alien images become familiar
• * In A Clockwork Orange, the repetitions of the Korova Milkbar make the alien decor seem more familiar.
• Familiar images become alien
• * In Dr. Strangelove, the distortion of the humans make the familiar images seem more alien.
• Alien and familiar images are juxtaposed
• * In The Deadly Mantis, the giant praying mantis is shown climbing the Washington Monument.

Cultural theorist Scott Bukatman has proposed that science fiction film is the main area in which it is possible in contemporary culture to witness an expression of the sublime be it through exaggerated scale (the Death Star in Star Wars), apocalypse (Independence Day) or transcendence (').

Related Topics:
Scott Bukatman - Sublime - Death Star - Independence Day

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