Description:
From lurid comic-book blockbusters to dark dystopian visions, science fiction is seen as both a powerful cultural barometer of our times and the product of particular industrial and commercial frameworks. Major themes of the genre are outlined, from representations of the mad scientist and computer hacker to the relationship between science fiction and postmodernism, exploring issues such as the meaning of special effects and the influence of science fiction cinema on the entertainment media of the digital age. Over one hundred films are discussed and the book concludes with an extensive case study of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.
Brief description: Geoff King is professor of film and television studies at Brunel University and the author of American Independent Cinema (IB Taurus 2005); Indiewood, U.S.A.: Where Hollywood Meets Independent Cinema (IB Taurus 2009); and Art Cinema: Positioning Films and the Contruction of Cultural Value (IB Taurus 2018).
Review Quotes: The best overview of English-language science fiction cinema published to date -thorough, clearly written and full of excellent examples. Highly recommended.