The film I chose at the outset of this journey of essays was Star Wars (Directed by George Lucas, 1977, United States, UK). For comparison of technology used in science fiction film versus the real world, one perhaps need go no further than the most famous of science fiction films. However, for argumentative purposes, I have found other comparisons in three other science fiction films that will illustrate the point that I am trying to make. Science Fiction is perhaps the gateway for people to understand what could possibly come to be in terms of technological and scientific advancement.
In the film Star Wars, there is a wide array of technological superiorities in contrast to what we currently possess in the real world. Such examples include hyper light speed space travel, laser weapons such as blasters and light sabers, extremely advanced artificial intelligence in the form of cyborgs, or droids, and a massive weapon of intergalactic mass destruction known as the Death Star. These are things that are not yet possible in our world, yet can be depicted on the screen via various special effects to make them “real”, in a sense. Technological advancements such as our own artificial intelligence and robots provide evidence that the technologies depicted in science fiction film are perhaps already in development or on the way. We have space travel, laser weapons, robots, and weapons of mass destruction. They are just in their infancy stages, but with applied research and advancements, perhaps someday what was once perceived as fantasy will ultimately become a reality. In the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (Directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1968, United Kingdom and US), an artificial intelligence is depicted in the form of HAL 9000.
Hal is a computer system that controls the ship in which the astronauts travel. He is control of most if not all of the ships functions, and is “incapable of error.” This supercomputer ultimately turns on the ship’s crew when it makes an error and starts to develop a sense of self-consciousness, so to speak. It discovers that the crew intends to shut it down and subsequently decides to eliminate them. Only through human bravery is HAL taken down and defeated.
HAL represents what is already a possibility in this real world, a form of artificial intelligence that we come to rely on and trust to not make mistakes and to be kind of infallible. Granted, HAL is much more advanced than what is currently possible. I think that there will eventually be technology of this kind available and prevalent in our lifetimes. HAL represents a kind of warning of the dangers that such technology could present. I think that this is always something that we realize, but perhaps do not take as seriously as we should. These artificial intelligences should be pursued with much care, so one day they do not come back to haunt us. “I have no hesitation in thinking that a machine can be just as intelligent and just as real as a person, in principle.”-Professor Rodney Brooks, Director, MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab. (1)
In the film The Matrix (Directed by the Wachowski Brothers, 1999, United States/Australia) , this previous point is illustrated to a much more extreme degree. In the film, the human race has been enslaved by computers and harvested into “batteries” of a sort. We are all hooked into the system, and are fed a virtual reality through a connection implanted in the back of our craniums.
This virtual world helps to keep us serene and oblivious, and only a few escape to try and take back our world from the machines.
This is taking the previous point and showing the ultimate consequences of a technological “takeover” of sorts and depicting it on the big screen for our entertainment. Although such a fate is pretty imaginative, I think that the film represents a kind of catalyst of what we should be careful and wary of. Obviously, the technology does not exist that can hook up our brains to computers and have our minds flooded with such vivid imagery that we can perceive it as reality. However, this is another example of a science fiction film providing a gateway to see what could possibly come to be on down the road if technological advancements continue to develop at the pace that they already are. Another example of science gone awry is presented in the film 28 Days Later (Directed by Danny Boyle, 2002, United Kingdom). Jim awakes one day to find the world that he knew totally devastated by a mass pandemic. The city he roams is vacated and desolate as a result of this.
This is taking the previous point and showing the ultimate consequences of a technological “takeover” of sorts and depicting it on the big screen for our entertainment. Although such a fate is pretty imaginative, I think that the film represents a kind of catalyst of what we should be careful and wary of. Obviously, the technology does not exist that can hook up our brains to computers and have our minds flooded with such vivid imagery that we can perceive it as reality. However, this is another example of a science fiction film providing a gateway to see what could possibly come to be on down the road if technological advancements continue to develop at the pace that they already are. Another example of science gone awry is presented in the film 28 Days Later (Directed by Danny Boyle, 2002, United Kingdom). Jim awakes one day to find the world that he knew totally devastated by a mass pandemic. The city he roams is vacated and desolate as a result of this.
We learn that there was a virus unleashed called the “Rage,” in which people become infected and turn into raging, psychotic zombies that just want to kill and feed.
I think, that if you take away the zombie element, that this is perhaps the closest to a possible reality as many science fiction films have ever reached. The notion of a virus developing that can spread like wildfire and kill billions of people is one that many scientists agree is a very realistic possibility. Such evidence as the recent Swine Flu (which, as of this writing, was much ado about nothing) shows that a virus can come out of nowhere and infect humans at an extremely frightening pace. “An especially severe influenza pandemic could lead to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time.” (2) This is more and more a worrisome possibility for those in power, and needless to say, all of us that inhabit this planet. And, as depicted in the film, I am sure that in the development of anti-viruses and vaccines, there are chemicals in laboratories right now, which if not contained properly, could result in disaster. Of all of the examples that I have provided in this essay, I believe that this is the one that is always, and always will be, closest to reality of actually happening.
Craig W Anderson is quoted as saying that, in looking at 1970s science fiction, fictional text rest upon believable extrapolations of actual scientific theory and technologies. Successful films of the genre need to conform to some extent to the scientific images and information circulating at the time. (3) One must look backward and forward in seeking to provide insights about identity, one that asks what was and what if. (4) I think that these aforementioned thoughts illustrate what science fiction film can possibly act as: a gateway or looking glass into our own innovations. It provides a kind of entertaining yet (sometimes) thought provoking analysis of our world and technologies, and the future that both could possibly possess.
I think, that if you take away the zombie element, that this is perhaps the closest to a possible reality as many science fiction films have ever reached. The notion of a virus developing that can spread like wildfire and kill billions of people is one that many scientists agree is a very realistic possibility. Such evidence as the recent Swine Flu (which, as of this writing, was much ado about nothing) shows that a virus can come out of nowhere and infect humans at an extremely frightening pace. “An especially severe influenza pandemic could lead to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time.” (2) This is more and more a worrisome possibility for those in power, and needless to say, all of us that inhabit this planet. And, as depicted in the film, I am sure that in the development of anti-viruses and vaccines, there are chemicals in laboratories right now, which if not contained properly, could result in disaster. Of all of the examples that I have provided in this essay, I believe that this is the one that is always, and always will be, closest to reality of actually happening.
Craig W Anderson is quoted as saying that, in looking at 1970s science fiction, fictional text rest upon believable extrapolations of actual scientific theory and technologies. Successful films of the genre need to conform to some extent to the scientific images and information circulating at the time. (3) One must look backward and forward in seeking to provide insights about identity, one that asks what was and what if. (4) I think that these aforementioned thoughts illustrate what science fiction film can possibly act as: a gateway or looking glass into our own innovations. It provides a kind of entertaining yet (sometimes) thought provoking analysis of our world and technologies, and the future that both could possibly possess.
(1.)http://www.2001halslegacy.com/
(2) http://www.pandemicflu.gov/general/#impact
(3) Cornea, Christine, “Science Fiction Cinema”. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2007 (p. 77)
(4) Nelson, Alondra. “Future Texts.” Social Text 71, Vol. 20 (2002): P.111
(2) http://www.pandemicflu.gov/general/#impact
(3) Cornea, Christine, “Science Fiction Cinema”. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2007 (p. 77)
(4) Nelson, Alondra. “Future Texts.” Social Text 71, Vol. 20 (2002): P.111
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