Why Are So Many Sci-Fi Films Left-Wing?

IBD's Capital Hill ^ | 1/11/2009 | Ed Carson

[Slyscribe]

“Avatar” is wowing audiences with its groundbreaking 3-D technology (too bad the characters are one-dimensional). But in another way it’s ordinary: a science-fiction film that plays to leftist fantasies about capitalism and the military.

Yet many sci-fi fans are on the political right. So why are sci-fi films and TV shows typically liberal?

Hollywood films tend to be liberal, sure. But science fiction in particular lends itself to utopian visions that the world’s problems can be solved once and for all.

[Perdogg]

“Gatica” was not liberal either,

[paulycy]

Captain Obvious suggests that you follow the production money.

[mnehring]

It is actually currently in production rumored to have Angelina Jolie as Dagny. The newest rumor is that it will be a mini-series.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480239/

[PetroniusMaximus]

Science Fiction if the “Book of Revelations” of the secular society - just like Evolution is it’s “Book of Genesis.”

[petro45acp]

Triumph of the will over adversity (societal). Nice pull.

[Sans-Culotte]

I disagree that all sci-fi films and TV series are liberal. Star Trek TOS is not liberal, it is anything but liberal.

Star Trek TOS was not overtly liberal. That is mainly because the world of the Federation was never really defined or explained. However, in Star Trek TNG, the future is apparently a communist one in which people don't need money and are happy in their jobs and find recreation through virtual reality simulators.

Also, the OP said "so many" sci-fi films are liberal-not "all".

[LeonardFMason]

“Republicans are the blue people, living in harmony with their economic environment, attacked by powerful outsiders.”

YES.

The military represents the IRS and the precious ore is the last dollar that has not been taxed! The Blue people are blue because they are being choked of life by a far-left government.

[qwertypie]

Don’t ... patronize ... Hollywood.

Don’t ... enable ... liberals.

Why are some conservatives so dense that they need to be reminded of that?

[Androcles]

In what way? I genuinely don’t see it.

Let me know, the topic interests me though I’ll have to check in tomorrow due to the time differences.

[Perdogg]

I think that's a bit of a stretch. Both series discusses the prime directive which means NO govt interference.

[LeonardFMason]

THE THING with Kurt Russell was not left-wing. My favorite scene is when he has them all tied up and is testing there blood. ACLU types must cringe watching these “enhanced interogation practices”.

[Perdogg]

I think ST was a pro Taliban movie because we did not get to see Denise Richards naked!!! ;)

[Salgak]

You believe wrong. There are entire swathes of SF that are written for and by conservatives. Nearly EVERYTHING published by Baen Books, for example, has a conservative or pro-military bent.

Heck, George W. Bush even has minor speaking parts in several, including one where he’s talking to Jeb. . . (”Into the Looking Glass” by Ringo and Taylor. . .)

There’s even stories of a second American Revolution against a barely-disguised Hillary presidency (”A State of Disobedience” by Tom Kratman), and even one that takes on Political Correctness AND Global Warming (”The Last Centurion” by Ringo).

About the ONLY thing the Baen authors have screwed up on, is their expectation that Hillary would be President right now. . .

[Cacique]

btt

[denydenydeny]

Oh, and neither was either version of BSG.

I loved the recent version of BSG, but the New Caprica storyline with its "insurgents" and suicide bombings, made my eyes roll.

[savage woman]

Republicans are the blue people, living in harmony with their economic environment, attacked by powerful outsiders.

That’s exactly how I saw it too! At the end when all the
blue people came - I saw that as the Tea Party-ers.

[Sans-Culotte]

There is one episode or film in which Picard specifically defines the communist utopia of the Federation. I think it is in the First Contact movie. I believe he explains the federation to the Alfre Woodard character. He does not say "we're communists", but he describes a world that sounds communist to me.

I was not referring to the prime directive, but to the communist lifestyle of those already within the Federation.

[discostu]

Artists tend to be feeling oriented people, which makes them liberals.

[thulldud]

There are entire swathes of SF that are written for and by conservatives. Nearly EVERYTHING published by Baen Books, for example, has a conservative or pro-military bent.

I'll put one to that. The late Keith Laumer wrote a sackful of books with a very conservative viewpoint. Not just conservative, but positively "Consciousness I", if I remember my Charles "Greening" Reich correctly.

And yes, I got my set from Baen.

[Lazamataz]

You know, Communism MIGHT WORK if there were unlimited material goods, no struggle for food, and so on, as depicted in the Star Trek universe. If I could go to any store and simply walk out with a 99 foot long HoloTelevision any time I wanted because Robots made them for me, money might not be a big deal to me any more.

Betchya Klingons are still capitalists, though.