Androids, Humanoids, and Other Folklore Monsters: Science and Soul in Science Fiction Films

310 Pages·1994·5.82 MB·English

by  Per Schelde

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title: Androids, Humanoids, and Other Science Fiction
Monsters : Science and Soul in Science Fiction Films
author: Schelde, Per.
publisher: New York University Press
isbn10 | asin: 0814779956
print isbn13: 9780814779958
ebook isbn13: 9780585321172
language: English
subject Science fiction films--History and criticism.
publication date: 1993
lcc: PN1995.9.S26S26 1993eb
ddc: 791.43/615
subject: Science fiction films--History and criticism.
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Androids, Humanoids, and Other Science Fiction Monsters

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Universal Pictures, 1931. Still courtesy of MOMA film stills archive.

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Androids, Humanoids, and Other Science Fiction Monsters
Science and Soul in Science Fiction Films
Per Schelde

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Page iv
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
Copyright © 1993 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schelde, Per.
Androids, humanoids, and other science fiction monsters : science
and soul in science fiction films / Per Schelde.
p. cm.
Filmography: p.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8147-7930-1 (alk. paper)
1. Science fiction filmsHistory and criticism. I. Title.
PN1995.9.S26S26 1993
791.43'615dc20 93-274
CIP
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for
strength and durability.
Manufactured in the Unites States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

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Contents
Preface ix
1. Introduction 1
1
This Is a Book about Science Fiction Film
3
Assumptions and Methodology
6
Approaches to Folklore
12
The Films
12
Culture vs. Nature: Culture Is Assigning Meaning
14
Nature in the Cultural Script
16
Nature, Culture, and Folklore
17
The Umbilical Cord: Nature, Culture, and Christianity
20
Sf Soul Defined
2. Dangerous Science 25
25
What Is an Sf Movie?
27
The Sf Hero
29
The Scientist As Shaman, Superman, and Romantic Genius
37
The Evolution of the Sf Scientist
41
Mysterious Science
43
Sf Science Goals
45
Scientific Transgressions in Sf Films
56
A Monster Is Born

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3. Meanwhile Back in the Kitchen; or, Women and Science 64
64
Female "Nature"
66
Gendered Science
67
Woman the Polluter
71
Stereotypes
76
Women from the Future and Androgynes
4. Humanoids in the Toolshed 84
84
Need Space, Will Travel
85
Living Things from Outer Space
86
Organisms Monstrosus
96
Invaded Minds
108
Alien Gods
5. In the Belly of the Beast 118
118
The Mechanical Landscape: Technologie Moralisée
121
Sexy Weapons
125
The Ghost in the Machine
6. Disembodied Brains 132
7. Docile Bodies 150
150
Rossum's Universal Robots
154
Meanwhile, in the Real World
156
Robotic Gadgets
158
Sf Robots: R2D2 to Johnny-5
8. Intrusive Media 166
169
Corporate Mind Control
175
Mediated Mind Control
9. The Dystopia 187
187
Bureaucratic Nightmares
193
Male Supremacy

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10. The Human Form Submerged, Beleaguered, and Triumphant 196
196
Drugged Docility
201
Building Bodies
203
The Body-Beautiful Phenomenon
204
The Body-Clean Phenomenon
205
The Body-Perfect/Body-Immortal Phenomenon
11. Have Mind, Seek Soul: The Android's Quest 214
214
Deadly Docility
218
Womb-Envy
221
Perfect Mates
227
Soulful Machines
12. Conclusion 241
Bibliography 245
Filmography 253
Index 271

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