American Science Fiction Film and TelevisionAmerican Science Fiction Film and Television presents a critical history of late 20th Century SF together with an analysis of the cultural and thematic concerns of this popular genre. Science fiction film and television were initially inspired by the classic literature of HG Wells and Jules Verne. The potential and fears born with the Atomic age fuelled the popularity of the genre, upping the stakes for both technology and apocalypse. From the Cold War through to America's current War on Terror, science fiction has proved a subtle vehicle for the hopes, fears and preoccupations of a nation at war. The definitive introduction to American science fiction, this is also the first study to analyse SF across both film and TV. Throughout, the discussion is illustrated with critical case studies of key films and television series, including The Day the Earth Stood Still, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files, and Battlestar Galactica. |
Contents
Acknowledgements | |
The Cold War and the Space Race | |
Science Fiction and the Counterculture | |
Dystopian Science Fiction | |
Aliens Cyborgs and the Science Fiction Blockbuster | |
Politics and Identity in Science Fiction | |
American Science Fiction Post911 | |
The Repeated Pleasures of Science Fiction Film and Television | |
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