Sci - FiThe Dystopian Future

sub-genre.

What are the conventions of sci-fi?

• Sci-fi conventions can be spit into iconographic and thematic conventions.

• The genre can be sub-divide into several sub-genres:

•Dystopia or utopia?• Dystopia – a pessimistic,

nightmarish vision of the future

• Utopia – a fantasy ideal, a perfect society.

Future World Films

Future World Films For the most part these films present a

DYSTOPIAN future world, a nightmarish and often' apocalyptic’ vision. Why?

• Often dystopian films ‘prophesise’ about the future based on what is currently happening in society or globally.

• This is known as……• ……reflecting the zeitgeist.

In the year 2040…• Discuss your future world.• In groups you will be given an aspect of the

future to discuss with an accompanying article.

• What is the news story about? • How might earth have changed by the year

2040? (Technological/Medical, The Environment, Society).

A Future World.• Starter Task 1: attach a film(s)

to the following themes• Survival after an apocalyptic event.

• Technological progress – that will eventually be a threat to mankind/society.

• Dystopian films pose a hypothesis, a ‘what if’?

The what if ?

• Task: watch the opening of these two sci-fi films and make notes on what makes them a dystopian sci-fi film?

• Minority Report: Dir by Steven Spielberg( 2003)

• ‘Children of Men’: Dir by Alfonso Cuaron (2006)

Example dystopian films• Minority Report’: directed by Steven Spielberg and set

in 2054. • A film that prophesises about crime and the impact of

knowing when a violent crime is being committed before it happens. The end of murder!

• Huge advancements in computer technology but still reliant on the human brain!

• It could be argued that these films reflect the ‘CCTV culture most cities live in, the idea of being constantly monitored, under surveillance.

• ‘Children of Men’ (2006), directed by Alfonso Cuaron, is set in the near future of 2027.

• The film’s main hypothesise is that for an unexplained reason in the future women have become infertile and can no longer reproduce.

• The film also prophesises about immigration.• As with many dystopian films, ‘Children of Men’ is

apocalyptic, predicting a future of war, fear and paranoia.

‘The Terminator’ (1984)Dir: James Cameron

Case Study: ‘The Terminator’• The ‘Terminator’ (1984), directed by James

Cameron, is the first in what has become a trilogy of films and helped launch the career of 80s action star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

• The film is actually an example of two sci-fi sub genres, the dystopian future film and the time travel film.

• Because It was made on a relatively small budget ($6 million) ‘The Terminator’ relies on the majority of the action taking place in a contemporary city. Recreating future worlds is a costly business!

The Plot and narrativeWatch the opening 10 minutes: what can we say about the narrative?

Consider: linearity, exposition, cause and effect etc. ‘The Terminator’ narrative is much like many other sci-fi/ fantasy narratives as it is a

basically ‘the search or ‘quest’.

The basic plot: A Terminator is sent from the future by the machines to kill Sarah Connor, future mother of John Connor. (John Connor will grow up and eventually lead a resistance army to fight the machines). At the same time the resistance army send Kyle to repel the terminator and protect Sarah and an unborn John’s life.

• Does the film have a proper exposition?

• Not really the plot begins straight away. The exposition is told in the brief flash forwards and by Resse’s explanations to Sarah.

• Structure of the plot?

• It is non-linear because of the flash forwards to Los Angeles in the future where the machines have crushed mankind and only a rebellion army led by John Connor are resisting them. This non-linear use of flashback is important for the audience. Why?

More on narrative• It is very much a cause and effect narrative. Why?

• The terminator is a machine…… a relentless killing machine that cannot be stopped! It’s his desire to kill John Connor that drives the narrative of the film. Reese is equally driven to protect her and tell her about her future session. Again the quest.

• Dramatic irony?

• We know what is going to happen to Sarah but she doesn’t, particularly in the build up to the tech noir scene.

• The narrative denouement?

• There are a series of false endings-much like a horror movie. The terminator is killed by a machine- ironic.

• The final act with Sarah pregnant links to the flash forwards and our knowledge of John Connor and of course the film’s sequel.

Iconography

• Because of the very low budget Cameron was only briefly able to show us the future.

• We see futuristic weaponry and vehicles.• Derelict, buildings, ragged looking people

and a general sense of decay and anarchy.• In the present day the sci –fi genre is only

visually displayed by the terminator when we see his robot skeleton.

Social/Historical context• What does zeitgeist mean?

• The spirit or mood of the time.

• As we discussed to understand any film form the past or present you need to know a little about the historical context of when it was made, particularly a film with strong messages/ideas.

• ‘The Terminator’ was made in 1984.• What do we know about the USA and the world as a

whole in the 1980s? • Brainstorm what you think you know. • Now in groups do some internet based research.

What can you find in 15 minutes.

‘The Terminator’- The computer age.• What is the film saying about computers and technology?

• The film explores the theme of technological advancement eventually turning against mankind.

• Technophobia: At the time in the mid 80’s- there was a seen to be a genuine threat from the ‘computer age’ systems and computers and possibly start wars!

• Where is their specific textual evidence of this in the film?

• Key scene: Tech noir nightclub’.• Technology conspires against the human characters in the film. The

answer phone that leads to Ginger’s death and the walkman prevents her from hearing her lover being killed. The digging equipment which causes Reese to flashback to the machines killing humans in the future.

The Terminator and nuclear war.• The early 1980s was the ‘cold war’ era. A period of time when

the USA and former Soviet Union were in conflict. • Both nations were generating nuclear weapons and the threat

of the nuclear destruction of the planet was very real!

• Where is their evidence of this message in the film?

• The company Skynet who are blamed along with the government for causing a war between man and machines.

‘The Terminator’ and the ‘second coming’

• As with many sci-fi films that predict the future, some see a religious allegory in the Terminator.

• The idea of the saviour of mankind John Connor (JC?) being conceived by a Mary like Sarah Connor.

• The Terminator a Herod figure trying to kill the messiah? Or is he Satan?

Sarah Connor- post feminist.• The film along with many other films of the 80s era is often thought as

having a post –feminist message.

• Promoting the idea of strong women in control of their destiny. (Aliens, Thelma and Louise are other examples).

• Sarah’s character becomes more independent as the film progresses. This is emphasised in the sequel.

• Where is the evidence for this in the film?

• She goes from a meek, single waitress (damsel in distress) to a gun toting, truck driving forceful woman. In the film’s sex scene she is literally on top!

Influences on the ‘The Terminator’• Although it is a film very much of its time, Thematically,

narratively and stylistically James Cameron was influenced by other film sources.

• The silent German film ‘Metropolis’ was a big influence.• In the 1970s many pioneering dystopian sci- fi films were

made and ‘Westworld’ in particular was a big influence on The Terminator.

• Up until the early 80s Cameron was influenced by ‘Mad Max 2’, particularly in terms of mise-en-scene.

CharacterisationWhat does characterisation mean?

The construction of a fictional dramatic character.

From your own knowledge do you know any terms associated with dramatic characterisation?

Protagonist: the main character that the narrative revolves around.Antagonist: character that causes problems for the protagonist in the narrative.

What can we say about the character types in this film?

Stock types and Propp• Vladimir Propp cam up with a theory that all narratives were for

the most part centred around certain character types, or ‘spheres of action’.

• The hero• The anti hero or false hero.• The villain• The princess• The helper• The donor or giver• The wise man• The father

• Not all of these character types can necessarily be applied to every folktale.

The Technical aspects

• Iconography/mise-en-scene- sets, costume, props, lighting.

• Cinematography- angles, movements, shot types

• Editing – techniques, pace, effects etc.• Sound- diegetic sound including dialogue,

music.