StoryreaderThe Alien In Relief pt 5
January 15th 2007 23:45
The use of the familiar made alien only to be revealed as Other, is perhaps an even more powerful way of ‘throwing the alien into relief.’ The familiar is thrown into relief, estranged, shown to be illusory and questionable. The alien, then is the self made other, and reality rendered un-real, it becomes pervasive and inescapable inextricably linked to the previously familiar.
Difference in The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and The Matrix is not striking because it unfamiliar, its power comes from its very familiarity, from the estrangement of the known. Science fiction by ‘…exploring questions of diversity and difference…opens up new possibilities…makes us think.’ (Roberts 2000: 183)
As Neo suggests ‘there is something wrong with the world.’ and that half-perceived, vague something is the point that science fiction plays upon. Familiar subjectivity unravels into unfamiliar objectivity and difference is made tangible, identifiable through its relationship to the familiar.
Bibliography:
Attebery, B. (1992) Strategies Of Fantasy Indiana University Press: Bloomington
Evan, J.A. (1998) Celluloid Mushroom Clouds: Hollywood And The Atomic Bomb Bolder: Westview Press
Fitzsimmons, J. & O’Brien, W. (2002) Science Fiction And Film: Study Guide Central Queensland University: Rockhampton.
Leblanc, L. “ Razor Girls: Genre & Gender in Cyberpunk Fiction” in Women & Language Spring 1997 20.1.p.6.
Morris, G. (1997) “Sci-fi Nationalist Narratives” Bright Lights Film Journal 20 http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/20/20_scifi1.html
Roberts, A. (2000) Science Fiction Routledge: London & NY
Siegel, D. (1956) Invasion Of The Body Snatchers
Wachowski, L. & A. (1999) The Matrix Warner Bros: USA
Difference in The Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and The Matrix is not striking because it unfamiliar, its power comes from its very familiarity, from the estrangement of the known. Science fiction by ‘…exploring questions of diversity and difference…opens up new possibilities…makes us think.’ (Roberts 2000: 183)
Bibliography:
Attebery, B. (1992) Strategies Of Fantasy Indiana University Press: Bloomington
Evan, J.A. (1998) Celluloid Mushroom Clouds: Hollywood And The Atomic Bomb Bolder: Westview Press
Fitzsimmons, J. & O’Brien, W. (2002) Science Fiction And Film: Study Guide Central Queensland University: Rockhampton.
Leblanc, L. “ Razor Girls: Genre & Gender in Cyberpunk Fiction” in Women & Language Spring 1997 20.1.p.6.
Morris, G. (1997) “Sci-fi Nationalist Narratives” Bright Lights Film Journal 20 http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/20/20_scifi1.html
Roberts, A. (2000) Science Fiction Routledge: London & NY
Siegel, D. (1956) Invasion Of The Body Snatchers
Wachowski, L. & A. (1999) The Matrix Warner Bros: USA
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Take care,
Nick