...Africa during the apartheid era. “Once Upon A Time” is a short story that shows how apartheid brought people mistrust and a need to stereotype everyone in an effort to supposedly protect themselves. District 9 critiques the apartheid through the manipulation of sci-fi conventions and visual codes whereas “Once Upon A Time” manipulates the conventions of a narrative, fairytale and irony. Both texts critique apartheid. District 9 strongly comments on the apartheid that was occurring in Johannesburg at the time and represents this through the use of human VS alien. The apartheid in South Africa was a period of time when segregation was enforced, often resulting in evictions of thousands of coloured South Africans from their homes. In District 9, clear parallels to these events take place. The aliens in the movie are forcibly contained within an area known as District 9. In the film, the aliens are the ones who are being discriminated against by the whole human race. The aliens are called prawns. They are far from beautiful, they are bottom feeders, they are addicted to cat food, they live on rubbish dumps; they are presented as grotesque savages and scavengers. By presenting the aliens to us, not as attractive, high creatures, by making them look like half-human and half insect, the film constantly trips us up by making the racist gaze our gaze. Through the use of the sci-fi conventions, we sympathise the aliens, and we realise that what the humans are doing is very...
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...The science fiction short story the “passengers” by Robert Silverberg is literature of escape. It depicts dystopian world as it explores the social, political, and economic forces that cause the breaking down of civilization through alien takeover; the incidents, people, and obstacles that seem to rip the world apart at its seams, test their ethics, and show us a vision of the environment inverted directly upon itself. Alien phantoms called Passengers randomly take over the bodies of humans for several days at a time. One human in particular experiences frequent inhabitations from aliens and has just awoken from one. Charles Roth somehow is permitted to remember this specific encounter in a fog even though he has never before and is not supposed to by the rules of the aliens. He had a sexual encounter with an inhabited woman, Helen Martin, and then consciously finds her with the attempt to pursue a real relationship with her. Although reluctant Helen, who’s memory has not retained any information about Charles, is convinced to pursue the relationship despite her fear of being caught by the aliens by Charles’ enthusiasm to overthrow the enemy in this small way. The relationships development is quickly derailed as Charles finds himself ridden by another passenger. Charles Roth is the round character of the short story. He’s developed and his emotions are conveyed. The story displays a man that has been taken hostage and is victimized. He’s tired and frustrated and...
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...ENG. 111 Area 51: Alien testing facility? Area 51 is located near the town of Rachel, Nevada; Groom Lake surrounds the base (Strickland). To enter Area 51 you need a top secret clearance, a need to know, and an invitation by the upper most ranks of the CIA (Jacobsen xi-3). The majority of employees travel to Area 51 on unmarked aircraft from Las Vegas (Strickland). The U.S. government has never officially admitted to the existence of Area 51 (Jacobsen xi-3). This fuels the Alien controversies surrounding Area 51; theorists believe the government has aliens and alien aircraft on site (Strickland). Have aliens visited Earth? It is possible but unlikely that aliens are at Area 51. The majority of conspiracy theorists believe aliens crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, on July 2, 1947 (Soodin). The UFO wreckage and three aliens were retrieved by the US military and sent to Area 51 for research. Lieutenant Walter Haut, a public relations officer at Roswell Army Air Field, claims to have seen the UFO and the alien bodies (“Roswell Theory”). He describes the aliens as having enormous heads and being approximately three and half feet tall. General William Blanchard wrote an official statement saying the Army had recovered UFO remains on the 8th of July, 1947 (Strickland). According to Haut there was a second crash site where more wreckage was recovered. This is why the U.S Army gave the first statement to take the attention away from the more significant site (“Roswell Theory”). ...
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...today. The authors of the stories criticize our present social system, by displaying a satirized dystopian future of society, in which the world is led by corporatism and has lost control of themselves as well as the ability to think and instead are governed by a higher form of power, having become controlled sheep. The dystopian possibilities shown in the stories aren’t that far out of reach. Many of the dystopian elements can be scene in today’s society but on a smaller scale. As time progresses our civilization can itself become incorporated in a reality that was once the plot of fictitious stories. The classic cult movie “They Live” by John carpenter exploits corporatism that is seen in a large scale in today’s society. The movie revolves around Nada, a happy go lucky wandering construction worker, who stumbles upon a pair of sunglasses that are capable of showing the world’s true nature. Through his sunglasses he can see hidden subliminal messages throughout the city that are projected by advertisements and mass media. He only sees the core of their message and only the reason why they exist. No matter where Nada looks, or at whichever magazine he flips open he can see the same subliminal messages, which can also be seen on money. The memos contain messages such as: “obey," “consume," “buy," “work, sleep, play” and are meant to restrain and control the population. Nada also discovers that most of the worlds social elite are skull faced aliens that have infiltrated earth...
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...by Stanley Kubrick is an example of such as it is based upon the literary short story, “The Sentinel” by Arthur C. Clarke. Kubrick has done an astounding job at developing the original short story by combining music with visual images way before it’s time. The film allows its viewers to see the original short story told by Clarke, creatively expanded and elaborated upon in comparison with great detail. Table of Contents Introduction The Sentinel (Arthur C. Clarke), 1951 • Descriptive Elements • Theme – First contact 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, 1968 • Style, Visual and Music Elements • Theme – Evolution Conclusion References The Sentinel and 2001: A Space Odyssey Introduction “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) has been called, “The most spectacular vision of the future,” and “Eerily accurate and wild with suspense” (Nashawaty, 2011). It is an epic science fiction film based on the short story, “The Sentinel” (1951), written by Arthur C Clarke. Comparing the literary work from Clarke, to the fully elaborated film by Kubrick, it can be said that there is very little similarities. Kubrick has managed to develop Clark’s ideas into an epic movie that must be seen to be fully appreciated considering the time period in which the film was created. The Sentinel (Arthur C. Clarke), 1951 “The Sentinel” was a short story created in 1951, before the first landing on the moon. The story begins in the time period of 1996, with a geology expedition on the moon....
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...Language has dated back as far as the earliest civilizations of mankind, and it a crucial part of everyday life. Imagine trying to talk to someone without using any words, and the simplest phrases and commands become difficult to communicate. Now picture it on a larger scale, imagine trying to run a country or communicate with foreign diplomats, but no one can understand a word you are trying to say. This is a huge problem in works of literature and media such as Star Trek: The Next Generation or Octavia Butler’s short story Speech Sounds. These two-story lines have different outcomes of how the future plays out, but the role of communication and language in both is very important to the plot of the story. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the episode “Ensigns of Command” brings up the idea of how the two species’ language is different. In the beginning of the episode you do not notice much of a struggle...
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...Task B Ursela Le Guin encourages us examine economic and social class identity in her short story, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. The story is about a fairy tale like society whose sublime existence relies solely on a mistreated child forced to live in deplorable conditions. The citizens of Omela know that the child exists in these conditions, and they know that without the child the blissful lives they lead would cease to exist. The child’s identity represents the poor, blue collar, lower class in Western societies exploited and under paid by the wealthy, upper class and large corporations. The happiness of the rich and powerful majority is dependent upon the under paid, over worked, and exploited minority. Le Guin illustrated this when she states, “It is the existence of the child, and their knowledge of its existence, that makes possible the nobility of their architecture, the poignancy of their music, the profundity of their science” (Le Guin, 1973, p.5). The author also lets us know that the child is better off in these heinous conditions and would be unable to thrive if let go. She states, “It is too degraded and imbecile to know any real joy. It has been afraid too long ever to be free of treatment. Indeed, after so long it would probably be wretched without excrement to sit in” (Le Guin, 1973, p.5). Le Guin identifies with the co dependency of the economic and social classes. She shows us that they need each other in order to exist. Task C ...
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...handsome with looks akin to a Ken doll and is adored by most women (and some men). The same is true of the actor that portrays the commander of Galaxy Quest, Jason Nesmith, but the difference in Galaxy Quest is the commander definitely loves being loved; he is an attention seeking, egotistical male. Captain Kirk is very intelligent and passionate, whereas Jason is very reckless in that he makes decisions without premeditation. Contrary to what one might expect, Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols (Nyota Uhura), one of the first African women to have a role in American television that was not stereotypical, was subject to very little sexualization that was common to female actors of the time (IMDb). Her character is often seen wearing nylons and very short dresses that show off her legs, but that could be a reflection of the fashion of the time of filming rather than a show of sexualization, as she is one of the few female characters in the sixties who has an important role (communications officer) and knows how to fulfill it. This is the point where a dramatic deviation is seen between Star Trek and Galaxy...
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...“The Midnight Zone" by Lauren Groff is a short story told by a mother in the first person. It’s about her and her two kids and is set on abandoned hunting grounds. They live peacefully in a cabin until a storm comes around and she has a near death out-of-body experience, and the story ends when her husband comes to the camp and saves her. To understand what being human is like, the alien needs to read “The Midnight Zone” by Lauren Groff because it shows that humans have an innate sense of responsibility, that they feel intense emotions that trigger them to perform certain actions and that human life is often unpredictable and sometimes unbelievable. It also shows what motherhood feels like. Firstly, this short story shows us in many ways...
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...the World”, and “Kaleidoscope” are three short stories in Bradbury’s frame novel that represent the theme that ignoring opportunities and little things can harm someone. The later part of Ray Bradbury’s science fiction story “Zero Hour” shows that ignoring little things and small opportunities can lead to harm. In the story Mink, a young girl, is playing a game where kids under the age of nine simulate about alien abduction. Mink tells her mom about the game and her mom is skeptical: ‘“Martins invading earth. Well not exactly Martians. They’re- I don’t know. From up.”’ Mink’s mom said, ‘“and inside”’ (Bradbury 64). Motioning the fact Mink is making all this up. For example, Mrs. Morris, Mink’s mom, then calls her friend in Scranton...
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...Dallas of the commercial cargo spaceship “ Nostromo” in fantasy franchise Alien (1979). Notwithstanding the role of the captain in the movie, his role,as a supporting actors. But his role transmits to a strong co-staring role in connecting the many episodes of the movie. His character as a captain is to be a leader of the crew, and during the crisis situation, is to try to keep the crew out of danger. In fact, capt. Dallas is a nice and respectful top officer, who wants to return safely to home on Earth. 2. Actor Harry Dean Stanton His role in the movie as an Samuel Elias Brett was the engineering technician aboard the commercial towing spaceship Nostromo. He is a solid supporting actor, his role in a movie as a person which was hurt from a violent childhood. he studied at the Engineering Trade School, where he earned a degree in engineering. Prior to his posting aboard the Nostromo, Brett served aboard the USCSS Hurd. After the crew member -Kane was killed by the alien organism, which was implanted inside him, Brett constructed several sturdy nets to help catch the alien creature, and with assistance of several catching electronic detectors the crew set about finding it. The crew members, Brett, Parker and Ripley soon detected a signal,but it was a ship cat. Brett let him go. During a following attempting to find a newborn alien creature, Brett was killed by fully growing organism.He masterfully played short, but psychologically stressful role and brilliantly performed his acting...
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...In 1982, E.T, the movie about an extraterrestrial alien who crashed on Earth, came out. Ever since then, people have wondered if there really is something out there. Over half of United States citizens believe that there is extraterrestrial life. Twenty percent of them believe they are already walking among us. So the big question is this, Are we Alone in the Universe? Have you ever wondered how big the universe is? Think about .3%, picture it in your head, now add 50 zeros in front of .3%. That’s how much volume the Earth takes up in the universe. Scientists believe that there are between 100 billion to 200 billion other galaxies. Scientists also believe there could be 10 billion planets that could sustain life. Now, those planets don’t have to be like Earth. Life can adapt very well, as long as it has the bare minimum. What we think we need to survive could be unnecessary on that planet. So, given the estimations, the odds that we are not alone have skyrocketed....
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...Zarur PITENGEY .. Yes you read it write & I am confident that the same line would come from the anguished audience who actually saw this so called saga of Love Story in the theatre. Such a SAGA with which any person suffering from insomnia can recover. Well there are many noticeable things other than shapeless Kareena’s & chocolaty Shahid’s bad styling. The movie gets self rated by the slapstick of repetitive scenes & dialogues of the lead pair to their friends. How can be the story writer so dumb for not finding the bank’s name on the shopping receipt. The movie has been plotted on the basis of Chewing gum mechanism with boredom. Though it’s a copy of a Hollywood flick but it stands very prominent & unique for its music. There is a black out in the movie for 3 years but no explanation what everybody did for 3 years. Suddenly the actors dad announces the surprise engagement party of “Immy” a very immiscible nick name of Shahid, with his alien friend played by Aarti chabbria, Alien because shahid acts as if they are meeting for the first time. The climax which makes you curious to gauge the height of stupidity ends with beating up the bushes of your expectations. In short the extrasensory game of destiny makes a facetious show which persists badly till the end. I would really appreciate the work of story writer & screenplay person for their brilliant efforts to post mortem & use the term “DESTINY” throughout the movie. Whereas the lead pair fails to gel up the chemistry...
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...Abstract: Terry Bisson short story “They’re Made Out of Meat” is built from a dialog between two outer space aliens. They argue that everything about humans is meat. They use hostile and stereotypical attitude towards a different creation that leads to them unable to meet with humans. The aliens argue about meat and it is difficult to understand at first what meat is for them in this context than I realize they use the word “meat” to describe human beings. Their minds are so sure that they know a lot about humans, but in fact they do not know anything. I think so because the outer spaces use oversimplified concepts to define humans which sounded funny to read like "Yes, thinking meat! Conscious meat! Loving meat. Dreaming meat....
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...One genre fits all? Whether you prefer a romance, an action or a thriller, Science Fiction seems to fit it all in but still have its own unique identity. Is this why it appeals to so many? As Reported By ReJohnson. Looking around at movie advertisements shown on billboards, bus stands and television, it’s hard to miss the growing popularity of science fiction movies and books in modern society. Though still not as popular as genres such as Action and romance, many people have found an interest and love for science fiction. Over the past decade, there have been over 300 Science Fiction movies released. Statistics show that 5 in every 10 movies released in today’s society is science fiction. Many of them hitting the top ten list and have been nominated or have won major awards (e.g. Avatar which won 3 Oscars, the Golden Globe etc.). So why does it appeal to modern day audiences? It seems that in modern society, no matter how you look at it, Science fiction is a genre that can appeal to each individuals taste making it appealing to almost anyone. Though it is mainly based around an imagined future and scientific and technological advances, directors and producers have created a scale as to how ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ the science fiction movie is. While Hard Science Fiction focuses mostly on the speculation of the future as seen in the award- winning Matrix, Soft science Fiction focuses more on the entertainment of the audience and allowing them to escape from reality as seen in the...
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