Science Fiction: A Film Odyssey Science fiction films are almost as old as the cinema itself, dating back, most famously, to 1902 and French magician and filmmaker George Méliés’s spectacular and groundbreaking “A Trip to the Moon”. The genre was a natural choice for motion pictures, given the revolutionary and technological nature of the fledgling form and the fertile imaginations of so many of its pioneers. Beyond their stunning visual elements, science fiction films serve as allegories for the societies that create them. From the German Expressionist dystopia of Metropolis (1927) to the Japanese tale of destruction, Godzilla (1954), to the postmodern American neo-noir of Blade Runner (1982), such movies offer glimpses into a culture’s consciousness and insights into the fears and fantasies it contains. A variety of films from the genre’s rich history—and the mythic conflicts they address—will be discussed, so join us as we boldly go to a galaxy far, far away to experience . . . something wonderful.
|
|