Review of 'The Science Fiction Film Reader' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
An enjoyable collection, including interviews with makers, contemporary criticism and thematic analysis. I'd recommend (re)watching some of the films alongside.
I particularly liked: the essay on Science Fiction and the Mysterium by Karl Wessel (the best aliens are the ones you don't see); Doug Williams on Star Wars and republics (links between the Jedi and late '60s protest movements); Carina Dielissen's feminist take on Alien (sex organ imagery and mother power) and E.J. Park's provocative Socratic dialogue on the Truman Show (was he actually better off in than out?)
Overall I found it really revealing to understand some of the subversive / satirical motivations of makers and the rich references to other works that I would otherwise completely miss.
An enjoyable collection, including interviews with makers, contemporary criticism and thematic analysis. I'd recommend (re)watching some of the films alongside.
I particularly liked: the essay on Science Fiction and the Mysterium by Karl Wessel (the best aliens are the ones you don't see); Doug Williams on Star Wars and republics (links between the Jedi and late '60s protest movements); Carina Dielissen's feminist take on Alien (sex organ imagery and mother power) and E.J. Park's provocative Socratic dialogue on the Truman Show (was he actually better off in than out?)
Overall I found it really revealing to understand some of the subversive / satirical motivations of makers and the rich references to other works that I would otherwise completely miss.