Gendering Science Fiction Films: Invaders from the Suburbs

200 Pages·2013·1.644 MB·English

by  Susan A. George (auth.)

Gendering Science
Fiction Films
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Gendering Science
Fiction Films
Invaders from the Suburbs
Susan A. George
GENDERING SCIENCE FICTION FILMS
Copyright © Susan A. George, 2013.
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 978-1-137-32157-2
All rights reserved.
First published in 2013 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN®
in the United States— a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC,
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world,
this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited,
registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills,
Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies
and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN 978-1-349-45810-3 ISBN 978-1-137-32158-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9781137321589
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
George, Susan A., 1959–
Gendering science fi ction fi lms : invaders from the suburbs /
by Susan A. George.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Science fi ction fi lms—United States—History and criticism.
2. Sex role in motion pictures. 3. Cold War in motion pictures.
I. Title.
PN1995.9.S26G36 2013
791.43(cid:2)615—dc23 2013021017
A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library.
Design by Newgen Knowledge Works (P) Ltd., Chennai, India.
First edition: November 2013
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
I lovingly and finally dedicate this book to my parents,
Raymond and Delores George, and my partner in all things,
Ken Stiles—may you all “Live long and prosper !”
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Contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 Introduction: Gendering Science Fiction Invasion Films 1
2 Science Fiction Blue Prints for Cold War Gender Roles:
Mystique Models and Team Players 21
3 Saturday Matinee Cautionary Tales: Science Fiction
Vamps and Promethean Scientists 47
4 Invasion from Within: Mom, the Nuclear Family, and
Suburban Masculinity 85
5 “I’m Not the Monster Here!”: Science Fiction
Working Women after Rosie’s Retirement and
the Men They Work With 1 07
6 Postwar Prototypes: Female Heroes and
Progressive Men 127
7 Keep Watching the Screens: Gender in Fifties Science
Fiction Films and Beyond 161
Notes 1 71
Works Cited 1 73
Selected Filmography 1 81
Index 1 87
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Figures
2.1 Sylvia as a step-by-step manual for educated
woman’s behavior 3 0
3.1 Starlin giving herself additional injections 5 3
3.2 June just before taking the potion 5 8
3.3 June after drinking the potion 5 9
3.4 Nancy clutching the dead Harry 6 6
3.5 André, when his sexual desire is not repressed 8 0
4.1 The McLean family happy in their suburban home 8 9
4.2 Mary holding a scared and loving David 9 2
4.3 Sally is corrupted by the alien invasion 9 8
5.1 Dr. Pat Medford and FBI agent Robert Graham 1 11
5.2 Dr. Leslie Joyce, Commander Pete Matthews, and
Dr. John Carter 1 15
6.1 A White male in I Married a Monster from
Outer Space 1 33
6.2 Helen rejecting Tom’s marriage proposal 1 39
6.3 Helen as a central fi gure in the closing scene 1 45
6.4 Scene from The Creature Walks Among Us 1 48