Why Science Fiction?

Why does anyone use the genre of science fiction to make comments on society and themes within it? first of all the majority of comments are made on a technological basis and as explained before in the post about literature verses film we can see that the spectacle of sci-fi helps to draw peoples attention to notions of technology.

1. The 1950's was the golden age of sci-fi and from this we due allusions from he holocaust, where people were drawn into situations they didn't understand, people didn't know what was going on or simple didn't want to know. In the 1950's characeters always seemed ignorant or naive and even now there are still glimpses of this in many sci-fi films.
- Former allies became the greatest enemies at this time and this was constantly reflected in films such as the body snatches. Being against Paranoia at this time was a reflection of being against communism.
2. Gender Politics and the need to redomesticate men and women in terms of the family was explored as a representation of societal needs at that time.
We see in forbidden planet the female protagonist is at first an object to all the men but eventually she turns them into objects for her own needs and wants.
3. Consumerism. Notions of induced needs were explored: how you never have what you really need.
- Robbie the robot in Forbidden Planet is seen as the ultimate kitchen appliance.
4. Babyboom. Closely related to consumerism
Suburbs - was such a confirmed life and individuals were constantly seeking a way to break the monotony
- This is seen in Rebel without a cause - the end of the world means something to them whereas day to day life is reflected as almost nothing. They are searching for something new/a new way of living.
- Apolocyptic movies were about the world being destroyed but also the desire at that time to see them destroyed by human.
5. Television. The implementation of it in this time, more and more people were becoming techno savvy and therefore television was a big part, getting people to watch what was on.
6. Fad for Freud.
Monsters for the id - once again back to paranoia.
The 1938 Orsen Wells news broadcast of war of the worlds - people were unsure if it was real life and we were actually being invaded by aliens. There was a confusion between fiction and non-fiction.

All these notions began in the golden era of science fiction film but we can see that these themes are still present today. The genre of science fiction allows us to explore these notions in a way that other genres can not.