Science FictionScience Fictionalternate possibilities of realityalternate possibilities of reality

The 50s – The 1990sThe 50s – The 1990s

Alternate RealitiesAlternate Realities

A setting in the future A setting in the future or in an alternate or in an alternate timeline where history timeline where history has played out has played out differently.differently.

Alternate RealitiesAlternate Realities

A setting in outer A setting in outer space or that includes space or that includes aliens.aliens.

Alternate RealitiesAlternate Realities

Stories that contradict known laws of nature Stories that contradict known laws of nature

Conventions of the Genre?Conventions of the Genre?Special Effects (SFX), Make-up, and Special Effects (SFX), Make-up, and

Alternate RealitiesAlternate RealitiesScience Fiction tends to borrow the Science Fiction tends to borrow the

conventions of other genresconventions of other genres

Conventions of the GenreConventions of the Genre

If it follows the If it follows the Western story-Western story-telling pattern, it telling pattern, it uses those uses those conventionsconventions—the —the lone hero, open lone hero, open spaces, clearly spaces, clearly defined bad defined bad guys…guys…

Conventions of the GenreConventions of the Genre

If it’s a musical, it If it’s a musical, it follows those follows those conventionsconventions——high key lighting, high key lighting, bright colorsbright colors……

Conventions of the GenreConventions of the Genre

If it’s about the dark side of humanity, it follows If it’s about the dark side of humanity, it follows film noir—low key lighting, femme fatale, film noir—low key lighting, femme fatale, questionable heroesquestionable heroes

What affected American Society?What affected American Society?CommunismCommunism

Nuclear destructionNuclear destruction InvasionInvasion

New Science/TechnologyNew Science/TechnologySpace travelSpace travel

Fears in the 1950sFears in the 1950sFear of nuclear destruction—movies Fear of nuclear destruction—movies

depicting invasions by giant creatures depicting invasions by giant creatures (ants, spiders, blobs...(ants, spiders, blobs...Them!Them!))

Fear of foreign invasion—the alien Fear of foreign invasion—the alien invasion movies (invasion movies (The Day the Earth Stood The Day the Earth Stood Still)Still)

Fears in the 1950sFears in the 1950sFear of science/tech.—movies depicting Fear of science/tech.—movies depicting

“what can go wrong” in the lab (“what can go wrong” in the lab (The The Incredible Shrinking Man, GodzillaIncredible Shrinking Man, Godzilla); or ); or movies that have robots that “take over” movies that have robots that “take over” ((Forbidden PlanetForbidden Planet))

*Space travel was less of a fear than *Space travel was less of a fear than fascination. People became obsessed fascination. People became obsessed with the idea of other worlds and with the idea of other worlds and civilizations.civilizations.

Changes in the 1980sChanges in the 1980s The Vietnam War and Watergate left audiences The Vietnam War and Watergate left audiences

in the 1980s cynical; they no longer trusted their in the 1980s cynical; they no longer trusted their government leadersgovernment leaders

With a history of social activism (the Hippies With a history of social activism (the Hippies grew up!), audiences held their government grew up!), audiences held their government accountable, and demanded change.accountable, and demanded change.

The emergence of the environmental movementThe emergence of the environmental movement—it wasn’t all about politics anymore.—it wasn’t all about politics anymore.