Description
Book SynopsisA wide-ranging introduction to the study of contemporary science fiction cinema.
Trade ReviewThis is an important new survey of a body of film. It offers plenty of new insights in a refreshingly jargon-free language. It will become a necessary companion for any serious viewer of SF film. -- Professor David Seed, School of English, University of Liverpool Well written and engaging, Science Fiction Cinema will become a staple text for cultural studies and film studies scholars who are interested in the larger historical contexts to the films as well as their formal analysis. -- Ximena Gallardo European Journal of Cultural Studies Cornea has managed to provide an informative overview of the development of American SF in terms of its historical and cultural context whilst never neglecting to include teh influence s of international film on the genre. Given the broad nature of the book, its primary funchtion will be as an introductory text, and here is succeeds with flying colours. -- James Curnow, Monash University, Australia Screening the Past Christine Cornea's Science Fiction Cinema: between fantasy and reality takes its place in the list of rigorous studies of science fiction film that, if not foundational, are surely indispensable! All of Cornea's readings of science fiction films refine older readings and/or provide new insights, but Cornea is at her thought-provoking best when discussing lesser-studied films such as Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980), Hardware (Richard Stanley, 1990), and Nemesis 2: Nebula (Albert Pyun, 1995). What results is a work that is strikingly thorough, and it is hard for me to imagine the scholar or teacher who will not find this book an invaluable addition to the canon of science fiction film criticism. -- Brooks Landon, University of Iowa Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television This is an important new survey of a body of film. It offers plenty of new insights in a refreshingly jargon-free language. It will become a necessary companion for any serious viewer of SF film. Well written and engaging, Science Fiction Cinema will become a staple text for cultural studies and film studies scholars who are interested in the larger historical contexts to the films as well as their formal analysis. Cornea has managed to provide an informative overview of the development of American SF in terms of its historical and cultural context whilst never neglecting to include teh influence s of international film on the genre. Given the broad nature of the book, its primary funchtion will be as an introductory text, and here is succeeds with flying colours. Christine Cornea's Science Fiction Cinema: between fantasy and reality takes its place in the list of rigorous studies of science fiction film that, if not foundational, are surely indispensable! All of Cornea's readings of science fiction films refine older readings and/or provide new insights, but Cornea is at her thought-provoking best when discussing lesser-studied films such as Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980), Hardware (Richard Stanley, 1990), and Nemesis 2: Nebula (Albert Pyun, 1995). What results is a work that is strikingly thorough, and it is hard for me to imagine the scholar or teacher who will not find this book an invaluable addition to the canon of science fiction film criticism.
Table of Contents1. Introduction: The Formation of the Genre; Interview: Writer Brian Aldiss; Interview: Writer William Gibson; 2. Science Fiction Films in the 1950s; Interview: Actor Billy Gray; 3. Spaced Out: Between the 'Golden Years'; Interview: Director Ken Russell; 4. The Masculine Subject of Science Fiction in the 1980's Blockbuster Era; Interview: Director Paul Verhoeven; 5. Gender Blending and the Feminine Subject in Science Fiction Film; Interview: Director Paul Verhoeven (Part 2); 6. Alien Others: Race and the Science Fiction Film; Interview: Actor Joe Morton; 7. Generic Performance and Science Fiction Cinema; Interview: Actor Dean Norris; Conclusion: The Technology of Science Fiction Cinema; Interview: Special Effects Technician Stan Winston; Interview: Director Roland Emmerich.
