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Major themes
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The importance of narrative and morality plays as ways for
understanding the world. SF at this time serves the same function
as ancient mythologies: a narrative through we understand what it
means to be human – except science provides the new cosmology
– but ethical dilemmas are the same.
Speciesim by humans against aliens as an analogue for
speciesism against Earthlings (e.g. Carnival of Monsters, Scientific
Method); ironically, it may been seen a morality play against
racism(e.g. Let that Be your Last Battlefield; Enemy Mine; Avatar)
but properly speaking is about speciesism.
Specieism by alien nonhumans against humans (e.g. the entire
hostile alien genre, and disparaging remarks against humans by
aliens – alien superiorism) helps illustrate the immorality of human
treatment of nonhuman Earthlings (a class thought-experiment for
the Argument from Marginal Cases)
Themes continued
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Aliens or future humans as representative of our better
vegan selves (utopian, e.g. Federation of Planets and
Vulcans as vegans, La Belle Verte) or our worst selves
(carnist, e.g. Androgens), illustrating the moral
ambivalence of humans – portrayal of plant-based diets as
enlightened
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The speciesism of SF writers who subscribe to the idea
that intelligence or technology are criteria of moral
personhood (this occurs often)
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The theme of enlightened humans trying to stop
unenlightened, militaristic humans from creating a war with
aliens with whom there might be peace (e.g. Silurians, ET,
Starman)
Themes continued
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Revolution of humans against speciesist alien masters
(e.g. Fantastic Planet), or revolution of aliens or
nonhumans enslaved by humans (e.g. Planet of the
Oods, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), and the moral
dilemma between violence and nonviolence that arises
from that
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Human speciesm against aliens in the form of
regarding them as 'animals' and shifting towards
regarding them as peers (e.g. the Horta, Silurians)
usually through communication
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Misanthropy either by aliens or by humans against
their own species (e.g. Doctor Who's ambivalence
regarding human propensities for good and evil)
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The speciesism of Sci-Fi fans and the use of
this issue as a vehicle for spreading veganism
Creature from the Pit
Carnival of Monsters
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pt. 3, 4:45
Invasion of the Dinosaurs
(illustrates the use of animals to evoke fear,
awe e.g. Chauvet caves, demonization - snakes)
The Two Doctors
The Two Doctors
The Two Doctors
The Two Doctors
The Beast Below
Planet of the Oods
Full circle (and also the Mutants: issue of
human evolving from or into nonhuman
forms – confronting their own animality)
The Silurians
Moral dilemma over genocide ….
DAWSON: We must destroy them, before they destroy us.
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SILURIAN JR: The apes have become dangerous. They must be
destroyed.
SCIENTIST: Our leader seems to have different views.
SILURIAN JR: I know. He has taken one of these creatures into our
control room. He is talking to it.
SCIENTIST: Perhaps it may give him useful information.
SILURIAN JR: What information can we gain from apes? His
concern for them may be dangerous!
[the Silurians murder the leader and attempt to destroy humanity
with a plague, but they are defeated by the military]
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Dr. Who: That's murder. They were intelligent alien beings. A whole
race of them. And he's just wiped them out.
District 9 (similar to Full Circle, the Mutants)
The Matrix
(moral choice, also misanthropy)
La Belle Verte
The Mist (demonization, sacrifice,
misanthropy)