Mary Shelley’s gothic promethean novel, Frankenstein (1818), was released during the industrial revolution as romanticism was thriving, while Ridley Scott’s futuristic sci-fi Blade runner (1992) grew with the dawning of a capitalistic increasingly globalised and technologically driven society. The comparative study of these texts encompasses themes of humanity and playing God through a tone of moral warning and allows the responder to explore how similar content in different contexts will reflect changing, but also constant values. Through the use of filmic techniques, Scott demonstrates how nature and religion are absent in a world overrun by consumerism and technology. Due to her context, Shelley alternatively uses imagery and allusions to hint at the consequences humanity will suffer if they try to better God through the misuse of science and the corruption of nature. Both of these texts reflect the distinctive contexts in which they were written; although separated by over 100 years of history, they still present similar issues and dilemmas which affected the form and features of the individual texts.
Invasion of The Body Snatchers Invasion of The Body Snatchers is a classic science fiction film from the 1950’s. This movie is one among the litter of films and media that addressed invasions from foreign creatures and evil aliens during the 1950’s and 1960’s. On television there were Twilight Zone episodes that featured this theme. And on Radio an earlier broadcast of “War of The Worlds” from 1938, focused around alien invasions too. This invasion theme started to make way in the 1920’s and for reasons based in world political events.
More importantly, is there such thing as ‘American’ culture? In Randolph Bourne’s “Trans-National America” he rejects the concept of a cultural ‘melting pot’ intended to fuse together aspects of various cultures to form an inherently American one. In Puwat Chaukamnoetkanok's “Triply Identity: My Experience as an Immigrant in America”, Chaukamnoetkanok in part suffers an identity crisis upon arriving in the United States and finds himself filled with feelings of frustration and isolation. By contrasting these two papers, one can see similarities between Bourne’s reasons for the melting pot’s failure and Chaukamnoetkanok’s actual experiences. Yet through further comparison, one can also find subtle differences between the two author’s views about assimilation.
What had been unleashed in 1917 was a revolutionary wave corresponding with the rise of socialism, trade unionism and Marxism in otherwise “successful” capitalist societies. The ensuing chaos in many of these countries during their attempt to establish a new form of government appeared to be enough to convince many Americans that alien radicals (particularly Communists and Fascists) should be identified, arrested and deported. They feared they could potentially pose a threat to the “American” way of life and freedom. During this period in California, many of the larger studios were being built up by former refugees from Fascism (Paramount, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Warner Bros). They tended to steer clear of politics and concentrate on entertainment.
This was the balance of terror. Why were US backed radio stations an effective means of propaganda? America also used financed radio stations like Radio Free Europe and the government’s official station, Voice of America. They broadcasted news to inform people who were trapped behind the iron curtain and to give them a taste of American music. The radio free Europe station broadcasted propaganda which was very successful in undermining support among young people for the Communist
Propaganda was used by both the allies and axis to shape the peoples perseptions. Propaganda in the 1950s was a way to highten or decrease the fears of common americans. americans feared atomic explosions and stalin accusing people of being communist. Propaganda in the 1950s hightened the fear of communist take over. Americans were easily influenced by propaganda and rumors, the line between fake and fact became unclear.
Oil profits have been the motivating factors behind many attempts at counterinsurgency of democratic regimes by the CIA and the U.S in the Middle East (such as Iran in the 1950s, where the Shah replaced the Prime Minister who refused to give up oil rights to the U.S., and since the people couldnt deal with the Shah, an extremist government headed by the Ayatollah Khomeini ultimately prevailed). During the Iran-Iraq war, America supplied both sides with weapons and advice. These are not the actions of a rich superpower wanting peace. Lets not forget that Saddam Hussein, before being Americas vision of the Anti-Christ, was a close ally of the U.S., and the CIA. So what was the firm belief system of consecutive American administrations that caused all this to occur ?
It suggests that an ambitious person will surrender moral integrity in order to achieve power and success. This is portrayed through Tyrell, the Creator of the Replicants and possibly the mastermind behind the world’s rapid propulsion into a world of science. Bladerunner is a dystopic science fiction that holds similarities to Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell’s 1984 (1949). Both these texts have influenced the themes present in the film regarding contemporary society’s failings and the speculation on the potential consequences of continued scientific pursuit. This pursuit of knowledge and progress is not unlike that of the Nazi regime.
Its unofficial status makes it less put together while perhaps ensuring greater freedom of information. These two documents are both radically opposed in their approach to American intervention in Vietnam, in the manner in which they express their opinions, and in their historical context. One is violently pro-war and basically insults anyone that does not have their “heart in the US,” or that is against the war, while the other promotes strong pacifist ideals. The first message is diffused through the glossy picture of a widely read magazine, while the other is exhibited through a crude caricature in an underground, illicit publication. Finally, the first document is published during a wave of anti-communist feeling before the “Vietnam syndrome” really
Civil Disobedience In Civil Disobedience Thoreau is talking about the purpose of the American government and its citizen’s role in the government. Thoreau starts with the faults of the government and how it is bent to the will of specific people. Then Thoreau talks about the rights and duties of the citizen. He finishes with his own act against the government and how it turned out. In this essay Thoreau makes the points that the government does not keep the country free, doesn’t settle the west, and doesn’t educate.