Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Birth of Sci Fi?
Some commentators have dubbed Méliès's film A Trip to the Moon the first science fiction movie. Not all critics, however, agree. Tom Gunning, the author of our essay on that film, argues for the contrary view. He states, " 'Science' fiction implies a certain sobriety and serious concern with scientific and technological possibilities. . . . But Méliès cannot take his scientists seriously at all, introducing them first as wizards with pointy hats, figures out of fairy pantomime . . . (70). What do you think? While you may not be able to judge whether this is the first of its kind, you can make a judgment about whether or not it qualifies as science fiction. Compare this film with other science fiction movies you have seen. How is it the same? How is it different? Can we call it a science fiction film, a precursor of such films, or something entirely different?
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Méliè’s film A Trip to the Moon is one of the first science fiction films ever created. A science fiction film is a movie that depicts futuristic ideas and scientific concepts that are often not fully understood yet. In 1902, when this film was created, a lot less was known and discovered about science. Humans did not yet have a strong understanding of outer space and space travel. Just because the things shown in the movie are clearly unrealistic in 2018 does not mean that the movie was not taking the topic of science seriously. The entire focus of the movie is about scientists figuring out how to travel to the moon in a futuristic space craft. This sounds like the most typical scientific fiction movie plot created. I would disagree with the argument that the movie is not sci-fi because they are not taking science seriously, shown with the scientist’s outfits. I think the element of the wizard hats was just to add another fun element to the new genre of film and allow for Méliè to show off more tricks and illusions. He adds another aspect of uncanniness by making the set more fantastical. I think this film was the inspiration to a whole new side of film. It welcomed in and encouraged films to move away from reality, often depicted in actualités. Méliè wanted to push people to fully utilize the freedoms that film gives people to tell fictional stories by starting the genre of science fiction.
ReplyDeleteA Trip to the Moon, by Melies, has been considered the first science fiction film. Although I do agree with the statement that says “Melies cannot take his scientists seriously at all, introducing them first as wizards with pointy hats, figures out of fairy pantomime…”, but I would say that it was a science fiction film for its time and a precursor of such films. The characters in the film are portrayed in a not serious way, which I think was added for entertainment, but he implements the idea of humans going to space. Because science was not as advanced in 1902 as it is today, one could argue that it was an entertaining fictional film with some science behind it. It is clear that the technology, editing, and science, was not as advanced as popular science fiction movies today like: Avatar, Interstellar, Ex Machina, Gravity, Jurassic Park, etc. Science fiction films today, specifically space films, have a much realer representation of what travelling to space would take and look like. They show how gravity would take effect, the space suits, a real representation of space ships, and have a better “tone” for the movie. Today’s films are also capable of showing what outer space would look like through green screens and advanced editing. A Trip to the Moon has some similar features, but mostly different. It shows similarly, the shape of a space ship and simply travelling to the moon. The main difference is the advanced technology and representation of space, the un-serious characters, and it does not represent that there is no gravity in space. As it portrays aspects of sci-fi I would say it is a precursor of such films, but not as advanced technically and scientifically as todays films.
ReplyDeleteI think A Trip to the Moon is one of the first science fiction movies because it contains many of the elements that are in science fiction movies today and because the film creates a temporary new world. Some of the key elements of science fiction is ground-breaking or nonexistent technology, creation of a new world or reality, and the dark or technology-fearing themes . Méliès was much more of a special effects-driven filmmaker than plot and intricate storylines but he still integrates the latest discussion of technology in A Trip to the Moon. Méliès uses the discussion at the time about ballistics as inspiration for his spaceship which fits with the use of ground-breaking or nonexistent technology. His use of this technology is similar to modern sci-fi movies such as Interstellar where they use discussion of colonizing Mars and life on Mars as inspiration for the movie characters using technology to grow plants on Mars. A Trip to the Moon was also one of the first sci-fi films ever because it creates a new world or reality; Méliès fabricated an alien civilization on the moon that the scientists discovered upon their arrival. The last theme of sci-fi is dark themes about the direction of society and the world. While Méliès created a relatively happy and whimsical film, it can be argued that his alien colony on Mars is social commentary on the state of western imperialism during that time; social commentary has become another common part of sci-fi movies. Although, Méliès doesn't take the science or scientists of the film seriously, like Gunning observes, and Méliès doesn't create a sense of fear towards the development of new technology. The main point I want to make is that A Trip to the Moon should still be considered the or one of the first sci-fi films because it lays the framework for what we consider sci-fi films today, and that the differences between Méliès's film and modern sci-fi movies is a result of the evolution of the genre. I think it's important to note that none of the genres we love today have always had the same hall-marked themes. As new techniques, technologies, and filmmaker perspectives arise throughout history, genres grow and change what they capture. Méliès set the frame work for sci-fi and the genre grew and established itself with more contributions and perspectives. To say that what makes something a part of one genre is set in stone from the creation of that genre isn't accurate to the history and the evolution of film; that's why we have the action genre, the adventure genre, and an action-adventure genre, action and adventure evolved to form the action-adventure genre which includes elements of both as well as its own unique elements.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Melies film "A Trip to the Moon" may contain elements of fantasy and absurdity, these features do not truly disqualify the film as science fiction. When compared to modern day science-fiction, both films contain core components, such as developing allegories that make commentary about our current world and using science to progress the plot of a story, that justifies its place among science-fiction. Though Melies may have focused more on the special-effects aspect of his film, he actually was able to develop a hidden commentary about colonialism at the time. For example, when the group of scientist landed on the moon, they met aliens that inhabited the area. However, rather than showing them as intelligent beings, Melies made the decision to portray them as savages. He then shows the scientists on a crusade slaughtering each alien, even the king of the moon. This scene subtly symbolizes the conquering of less developed nations. It even celebrates it as seen in the last scene where the scientists were parading throughout the town. Comparing this film to some current science-fiction movie like "Star Wars" or "The Matrix", one can see the similarity of the hidden commentary behind the films. In "Star Wars", the film is an allegory to imperialism and in "The Matrix" the film portrays a world where machines are in total control of humans with the use of simulations. One film comments about rebelling against imperialist, while the other talks about the limits of scientific advancement. In addition, Melies film also uses science to progress the plot of the film. In one scene, he had scientist enter a bullet-like rocket ship, which was then fired towards the moon from a giant cannon. Though this may seem somewhat absurd and ignorant because we already know that you cannot travel to space like this, we cannot let our current knowledge disqualify a movie that may even serve as a precursor for science-fiction. Melies incorporated some elements that were true for space travel, such as the use of an aerodynamic capsule and a propelling mechanism used to launch the ship. It was only they use of special effects and silly costumes that offset the science used at the time. Melies then was able to beautifully combine this element of science and silliness to create a narrative. In order for this narrative to be successful, it was crucial for Melies to use these elements of science, although they may be false now, to advance the story. Because Melies was able to use these two core components found in many scientific-movies, I would say that "A Trip to the Moon" is indeed science-fiction as well as the first of its kind because he set the precedent that many directors nowadays still follows.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon contains some elements of science fiction, it is not truly a science fiction film but rather a predecessor. Let us first examine the similarities between this film and true science fiction. A Trip to the Moon features the use of (at the time) futuristic technology to explore the unknown. It also includes an encounter with aliens, a common element among science fiction films. The reason why A Trip to the Moon is not actually science fiction is that this film has an almost nonexistent link to real science. Méliès’ scientists are more like wizards than researchers—rather than being science fiction, the film is closer to a fantasy. Meanwhile, true science fiction films are ultimately grounded in real science and present their narrative as something that could actually occur in the future, when technology advances. An example of a science fiction film is Star Trek. While Star Trek and similar movies are not always realistic—an example we discussed in class is the use of nonsensical scientific jargon—these films make a genuine effort to align their reality with technology that exists in the real world. They say to the audience, “This is what will happen if scientific research progresses along its current path.” So where does A Trip to the Moon fit in? Despite not being one itself, it laid the path for the science fiction films that followed it. Méliès’ film showed the world that the big screen could evoke a sense of wonder for the unknown, especially for the depths of space. It showed that the technology of the future could do things considered fantastical in the present. Again, A Trip to the Moon cannot be considered a science fiction film. However, it was a necessary step towards creating science fiction movies like Star Trek.
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