NOTE: This Is an Extremely Detailed Response Meant to Be an Addition to Your Notes!

A) (196)

This year a genre of film studied in class was science fiction – largely with the focus of alien invasion. The first science fiction feature films were released during the 1920’s after World War One. Often these films were based on works by science fiction writers such as H.G Wells and Jules Verne. For the most part the purpose of this genre was to convey future predictions as to the fate of the world and provide a safe ‘vehicle’ for social commentary. Science fiction films have led the way in the development of special effects and usually have a technology focus. Plot lines generally involve an alien invasion of some kind and their eventual defeat either by man or God himself. Many Science Fiction films also reflect the fears or concerns of the period in which they were produced, for example during the 1950’s era society was obsessed with Cold War paranoia and the destructive potential of the nuclear bomb. Alien invaders are frequently fictional representations of actual military or political threats on Earth at time in which the film was made whether they are communists or terrorist sleeper cells as in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 War of the Worlds.

B) (462 words)

A significant code or convention of the science fiction genre is the use of sound effects. Sound effects are often used in this genre to manipulate a viewer’s emotional response. Sound effects can also be used by directors to give viewers an indication of a characters role in the narrative and their intentions. In the film ‘Independence Day’ for example, directed by Roland Emmerich, sound effects are used to portray the invading aliens as being menacing and a threat to humanity. In the scene where an alien spacecraft is approaching the Empire State building a low rumbling sound is heard. The effect of this sound is to suggest that the alien spacecraft is an imminent danger to those in the city and also create a feeling of suspense. This is later reinforced when a large beam of light appears from the underbelly of the ship and destroys the Empire state building. Chaos ensues in the city streets as the aliens continue their attack and the sounds of screaming, car horns, explosions, and sirens are heard. These sound effects portray the feeling of panic and fear the people of the city are experiencing. This used of sound effects can also be shown in the film ‘Signs’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan. In the scene where Graham Hess goes to investigate an intruder on his property a number of sound effects are used to create a sense of fear and build tension. As Hess walks out of his front door you hear a wind chime and a dog barking. The barking later changes to a constant whine. As it is a still night little else is moving so these sounds indicate a disruption of some kind and establish a mood of anticipation or fear. The barking of the dog is also important as dogs usually only bark at something which poses a threat. That the bark changes to a whine indicates that the dog is afraid of whatever is present near the house. Hess hears a rustling noise in the cornfields and goes to see what it is. As he enters the cornfield the wind rustles through the corn leaves and a clicking or hissing sound is heard. These sounds add to the rising tension of the scene as viewers cannot see what is making the noise but know that it is close by. It establishes a sense of being ‘watched’. The wind rustling through the leaves also creates a sense of being isolated. It is somewhat reminiscent of the symbolic ‘tumbleweed’ blowing down a deserted street, a technique commonly used in western films. These types of sound effects are also used in the horror genre to evoke a feeling of fear as what you cannot see or understand can often be incredibly frightening.

C) (981)

A significant development in the science fiction genre can be shown through the use of the narrative and in particular the role of the hero. Most science fiction films have a predictable narrative. The majority of alien invasion films revolve around the invasion of the earth by an unknown enemy which is eventually defeated by the hero figure. Depending on the social context of the film and the era in which it was made the identity of this hero often changes. Along with the hero the role of the alien is also transforms over time. Generally the alien invaders are symbolic of whatever threat society is facing at that point in time. An example which portrays this is the 1953 ‘War of the Worlds’ directed by Byron Haskin. In this film aliens from Mars invade the American town of Linda Rosa, crash landing in the desert. They are seemingly unstoppable – even repelling an atomic bomb launched by the U.S Military. Dr. Clayton Forrester, a world renowned physicist helps the U.S government to develop a scientific solution however the aliens suddenly begin to die as they lack immunity to Earth's viruses and bacteria. The hero in this case is actually God. An unknown narrator at the end of the film states “All that men could do had failed…and humanity was saved by the littlest things, which God, in His wisdom, had put upon this Earth.” At the end of the day science and humanity could not save the earth – God was ultimately responsible. The 1953 movie version reflects the Cold War fears of Soviet invasion and radioactive fallout with the alien aircraft firing red lasers symbolic of communism and the USSR. The 1996 film ‘Independence Day’ directed by Roland Emmerich portrays a development of this narrative with the role of the hero moving from God to the President of the United States of America. Technology or more specifically a computer virus is also responsible for the defeat of the attacking aliens. This is largely due to the fact that at this point in time many people in America had lost faith in the President and US government. Civilians were also dissatisfied with Americas role in a number of world conflicts. Portraying President Whitmore as a world hero in ‘Independence Day’ was in a way, a method of restoring this faith in the real US President. Also during the 1990’s came birth of the internet. With this technological development came a fear of technology but also arrogance as to mans potential or power to control his environment. The shift in the hero role reflects this arrogance and reflects the diminishing reliance or faith in God to solve the problems of the ordinary man. Humanity begins to lack belief in God and sees humanity as its own saviour. There is a return to ‘faith’ in God however in the narrative of later films such as Steven Spielberg’s 2005 remake of ‘War of the Worlds’. The narrative of this film is reasonably similar to Haskins version however the aliens do not attack from space. Instead a lightning storm delivers the aliens into ships already buried deep in the ground. Like the original film the alien invaders are defeated by their lack of immunity to Earths bacteria and viruses. This narrative reflects the post 911 fear of terrorist sleeper cells and hidden enemies. It also shows the changes in society in terms of peoples need to believe in something larger than themselves. There is an evident shift away from reliance on technology and a return to faith. Spielberg also stated that the film was “about a family trying to survive and stay together, and they're surrounded by the most epically horrendous events you could possibly imagine." This is a narrative many families during this era could relate to due the events and challenges faced by society at this point in time.

God even takes the form of Aliens to an extent with the 2009 film ‘The Knowing’ directed by Alex Proyas. The earth is about to be destroyed by solar flares from the sun. Aliens mysteriously appear in the form of mysterious ‘strangers’. They begin to collect children from around the world and remove them from the planet in an attempt to preserve the human race. The last scene of the film depicts the aliens as luminous beings who descend into the sky with two children (Caleb and Abby) they have chosen from America. In this case the threat to the earth has become environmental and the role of the hero is played by an unknown alien race. Science in the form of John Koestler, Caleb’s father and a professor of astrophysics at MIT, has no power to prevent this apocalyptic event from occurring. This narrative is reflective of current issues in society where environmental concerns for the future of our world are of heavy importance. In particular the impact of global warming is a current theory being explored by many scientists around the world, the effects of which will have a major effect on earth and the survival of mankind. As shown the narrative of the science fiction genre has changed and developed due to the social context in which films were produced. The main development in the narrative of science fiction film is in the role of the saviour which changes from God, to man and technology and back to God again. The significance of this development particularly for the audience is that science fiction films can always be seen as vehicles for social commentary providing relevant messages and warnings about the world around us. Science fiction is an evolving genre of film which is able to influence the thoughts and actions of the audience in regards to the issue or ideas being conveyed. Therefore the narrative of a science fiction film can be seen as an extremely powerful tool and mode of expression.

(NOTE: This is an extremely detailed response meant to be an addition to your notes!)