What is Science Fiction?
The genre of Science Fiction is one that centers on telling a story based on fictional science notions that aren't accurate or confirmed by mainstream science. This film genre has been around since the early years of silent cinema, only getting taken more seriously after Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and then future Science Fiction getting inspired by George Lucas's Star Wars. These film's audiences are more specified, compared to other genres like Drama, due to the content in the film and the focus of the films, usually centralizing on political or philosophical issues.
Conventionalities in Science Fiction
The orthodox content in typical Science Fiction films would include the plot relating to the development of newly built technology (robots, spaceships, etc.) or depending on a scientific notion (time travel). While some Science Fictions depend on these futuristic, scientific developments for the main plot, some also combine aspects of withholding a dystopian/utopian society and expository politics. Throughout the storyline, the setting consists of places like other planets, or our own planet altered. The time takes place either in the fictional future timeline or a historical timeline.
In Science Fiction, the conventions in production techniques consist of using specific props in accordance with the futuristic of scientific developments or the film, for example, a certain prop of a spaceship. For costumes, the utilization of costume acts as a significant indicator of the time period and the advancements that come with that in the film, for example, if the film is a futuristic film about going to outer space, the costumes will showcase that with more developed gear and usage of astronaut suits.
Science Fiction is publicized through the usage of posters and trailers that depict these content conventions. For example, in the thumbnail of certain Science Fiction movies, futuristic aspects including setting, props, and costumes are witnessed, giving context to the audience of what type of film they are to watch. For example, in the film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the thumbnail shows the E.T., the alien, as the main center, along with the setting of the Moon behind him.
Science Fiction Films
The film Hunger Games is a Science Fiction due to its futuristic elements and its quality of being a dystopia. The juxtaposition between the film's hidden dystopia and its glorified utopian Capital reinforces the idea of a corrupt and totalitarian regime. The film reinforces these ideas of society versus the government by depicting these 13 districts living in impoverished states while the Capital seizes to live in a secluded bubble of wealth, control, and unlimited resources. This film succeeds in introducing a philosophical idea about the way our society is governed and restricted, by reflecting certain aspects of our reality but without breaking our imagination. The futuristic elements come in as being visual concepts, especially in the Capital. Technological advancements including computer-controlled illusions, controlled environmental states, and hovercrafts are a few of the inventions that are seen throughout the film. These futuristic elements reestablish the timeline for the movie, which is set in the future.
The film Her is also known as a Science Fiction for its futuristic qualities and undermining message. The recurring theme of technology and the human character's reliance on and innate connection to AI is a different, less noticeable approach of Science Fiction, but is one that connects the audience with the world the characters are living. Instead of being in conflict with something like the government or an alien, Theodore, the main character, is in conflict with himself and his past relationship. This type of Science Fiction is one that delves into humanity and Science Fiction aspects of advanced technology and a futuristic world.
Other Science Fiction films include:
