Science Fiction Cinema: From Outerspace to CyberspaceThis book charts the dimensions of one of the most popular genres in the cinema. From lurid comic-book blockbusters to dark dystopian visions, science fiction is seen as both a powerful cultural barometer of our times and the product of particular industrial and commercial frameworks. The authors outline the major themes of the genre, from representations of the mad scientist and computer hacker to the relationship between science fiction and postmodernism, exploring issues such as the meaning of special effects and the influence of science fiction cinema on the entertainment media of the digital age. Over one hundred films are discussed and the book concludes with an extensive case study of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace. |
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alien Amidala Anakin appears audience Blade Runner blockbuster body Born in Flames classic computer games contemporary science fiction costume create cultural cyborg Day the Earth Demon Seed dimension dominant droids dystopian Earth Stood elements Episode Event Horizon example explored familiar fantasy figure film-makers film's Flash Gordon Forbidden Planet Force future futuristic Gattaca gender genre George Lucas gothic Gungans hero Hollywood horror human images implications Incredible Shrinking industrial interactive issues Jedi kind Lawnmower Lost in Space Mars Attacks monster movie Naboo nerd offer Outer Space perspective Phantom Menace pod-race postmodern potential presented production qualities realistic recent science fiction robot science fiction cinema science fiction films scientist screen sequence SHORT CUTS special effects spectacle spectacular Star Trek Star Wars Starship Troopers strategy structure style suggests Tank Girl technology and rationality television thematic threatening University utopian Videodrome viewer virtual reality X Files