An Essay about the Science Fiction Film Genre

Throughout its history the science fiction film genre has paralleled the current fears and concerns of people at the time. The science fiction film genre got its start in 1902 with Le voyage Dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon) by French film maker and magician Georges Méliès. (Frank 13) It shows how during the industrial revolution, people were afraid of industry destroying the planet, forcing them to search for new places to settle. This film, and other early science fiction films such as The Mysterious Island (1929) and The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), also shows how pre 1960's science fiction films dealt largely with the fantastic voyage or alien invasions. (Telotte 45) While these types of science fiction film did not disappear, the 1960's ushered in a new type of science fiction film that dealt more with science, the human identity and political issues. It came at a time when major technological and social changes were occurring. The civil rights movement, assassinations of government figures and the Vietnam War were all happening in this time period. People began to have a new outlook on government. They no longer view the government as a solution to the problem as in Godzilla (1954) where the government's determination saved the day.…