Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why Are So Many Sci-Fi Films Left-Wing?
IBD's Capital Hill ^ | 1/11/2009 | Ed Carson

Posted on 01/11/2010 5:52:50 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.investors.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: avatar; blogpimp; sciencefiction; startrek; utopia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-147 next last
To: Tax Government

“I don’t think Avatar is left wing. One needs to read the sub-text.

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

I see Avatar kind of the same way you do. James Cameron obviously wanted to take a swipe at Bush in the movie, but he completely failed to make an effective comparison between the bad guys and Bush. The truth is, the mercenaries were trying to take land and resources from the Na’vi without any treaty or compensation. This is not conservative behavior at all, and is in fact very Hugo Chavez-like behavior. It is socialists (not conservatives) who believe they are entitled to take things without paying for them. So if you see Avatar, you can go ahead and cheer for the blue-skinned Na’vi as they fight against the Chavez-like mercenaries. Although the Na’vi do have a touchy-feely home-tree religion, they otherwise don’t seem at all like liberals, and they even hunt for food.


41 posted on 01/11/2010 7:22:32 AM PST by Texan Tory
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Oztrich Boy
Neither was Starship troopers

Yes it was.

The film of Starship Troopers was explicitly intended to be a satire of "American fascism" according to its director. The original book by Heinlein has no such message, of course.

42 posted on 01/11/2010 7:23:16 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Le Chien Rouge
"Sci-Fi is either Utopian in nature(Star Trek) or Dystopian (Mad Max)."

I can't see where "Stargate SG-1" (or "Stargate: Atlantis" for that matter) fits either of those categories.

43 posted on 01/11/2010 7:27:31 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz
That's a good way to look at it. I always thought that on ST TNG they simply wanted to dispense with any mundane plots involving theft, embezzlement, hunger, unemployment, etc.

As you say, that would only work with unlimited material goods for which no invoice is ever due.

44 posted on 01/11/2010 7:29:27 AM PST by Sans-Culotte ( Pray for Obama- Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: 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.

You're correct, here's the actual quote from the film: "The economics of the future is somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century. The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity."

My reaction to this would be, "So...you're not human anymore, is that it?"

45 posted on 01/11/2010 7:29:30 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Slyscribe

IMHO The biggest problem with science fiction movies is that producers and screen writers somehow believe they can do a better job than science fiction authors. I have noticed that many if not most science fiction movies are original screen plays written by clueless idiots. Good science fiction movies are few and far between.


46 posted on 01/11/2010 7:32:11 AM PST by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GL of Sector 2814
The original book by Heinlein has no such message, of course.

But then Verhoeven started the film not knowing of the book, and only read a few chapters before getting depressed and bored.

47 posted on 01/11/2010 7:32:12 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (Don't panic, the lunatics are in charge and have everything in hand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Sans-Culotte
That's a good way to look at it. I always thought that on ST TNG they simply wanted to dispense with any mundane plots involving theft, embezzlement, hunger, unemployment, etc.

This is what makes Babylon 5 so much superior to ST: TNG. B5 dealt explicitly with all of these subjects. Just because it's hundreds of years in our future doesn't mean these problems are going to go away.

48 posted on 01/11/2010 7:32:49 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Oztrich Boy
But then Verhoeven started the film not knowing of the book, and only read a few chapters before getting depressed and bored.

That speaks ill of Verhoeven, not the book...

49 posted on 01/11/2010 7:35:01 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: GL of Sector 2814
This is what makes Babylon 5 so much superior to ST: TNG. B5 dealt explicitly with all of these subjects. Just because it's hundreds of years in our future doesn't mean these problems are going to go away.

Same was true of Firefly in which the protagonists were smugglers in a totalitarian universe. Or, rather 'verse.

50 posted on 01/11/2010 7:36:49 AM PST by Sans-Culotte ( Pray for Obama- Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Slyscribe

I really don’t see how Waterwold and The Postman are liberal. /s/


51 posted on 01/11/2010 7:37:34 AM PST by castlegreyskull
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sans-Culotte
Same was true of Firefly in which the protagonists were smugglers independent traders in a totalitarian universe
52 posted on 01/11/2010 7:40:07 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (Don't panic, the lunatics are in charge and have everything in hand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: GL of Sector 2814; Sans-Culotte
Given the context of the 21st century it would, but of course we are talking about the 24th century. In the 24th century technology has replaced the old economies and the means of production. It did not come about in name of income redistribution and dictatorship. I am not the biggest fan of TNG, but this is again, is a stretch and has to be kept in its proper context.

What he is referring to is that people choose to explore and conquer space.

53 posted on 01/11/2010 7:42:28 AM PST by Perdogg ("Is that a bomb in your pants, or are you excited to come to America?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: GL of Sector 2814
The film of Starship Troopers was explicitly intended to be a satire of "American fascism" according to its director. The original book by Heinlein has no such message, of course.

The film was so stupid, yet cool to look at, and a blast to watch.

I read the book when I was deployed to Iraq (read it in my Stryker while pulling ridiculously long security missions), and I decided that the book was far superior, but would've been a fairly dull movie.

54 posted on 01/11/2010 7:44:15 AM PST by Future Snake Eater ("Get out of the boat and walk on the water with us!”--Sen. Joe Biden)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: GL of Sector 2814
That speaks ill of Verhoeven, not the book...

Well yeah, but he had his anti military message to tell\





"Making mock of uniforms that guard you while you sleep is cheaper than them uniforms, and they're starvation cheap" -Rudyard Kipling

55 posted on 01/11/2010 7:45:04 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (Don't panic, the lunatics are in charge and have everything in hand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

The Children of Men was a conservative book written by a conservative author. It was ravaged by the screenwriters and director. Turned it into a leftist screed.


56 posted on 01/11/2010 7:49:26 AM PST by Chickensoup (We have the government we deserve. Is our government our traitor?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Future Snake Eater
The film was so stupid, yet cool to look at, and a blast to watch.

From what I've heard, that sums up the movie "Avatar" as well. I'll give it a miss.

read the book when I was deployed to Iraq (read it in my Stryker while pulling ridiculously long security missions), and I decided that the book was far superior, but would've been a fairly dull movie.

I agree that it would have had to have been substantially altered in terms of plot, pacing, etc., but what's so annoying about the film was the director's perversion of the book's philosophical message.

57 posted on 01/11/2010 7:49:55 AM PST by GL of Sector 2814
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Androcles

No, B5 was liberal in a lot ways. For example, they went off the deep end for “Diversity.” I think they also supported their unions.


58 posted on 01/11/2010 7:50:57 AM PST by Little Ray (Madame President sounds really good to me...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Slyscribe
Any film can be picked apert as liberal. There always has to be a villan and a good person. The only blatant liberal show I've seen is the Dr Who series that seem to slather all over the name of Obama. Typical for the Brits. A bunch of bone heads.
59 posted on 01/11/2010 7:52:13 AM PST by jetson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Little Ray
"I think they also supported their unions."

I interpreted them more as "guilds" than unions. And guilds are inherently conservative and guard their parameters, rights, and responsibilities jealously. Think of the old European guilds which brooked little or no intrusion from church or state.

60 posted on 01/11/2010 7:53:56 AM PST by BlueLancer (I'm getting a fine tootsy-frootsying right here...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-147 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson