CODES AND

CONVENTIONS O

F THE

SCIENCE FICTIO

N FILM

GENRE

J C C

L A P P , NO R T H S

E A T T L E CO L L E G E

SETTING AND NARRATIVE• Set in a futuristic setting or an alternative history• Usually set in a city or a space-ship• Always some form of “not-real” alternate reality, time, or place• Often includes space travel and time travel• Often set on distant planets or in space• If set on earth, then it’s usually a dystopic reality (set after a

nuclear holocaust, or after technology has taken over, or after an oppressive government has limited freedom or rights, etc.)

• There’s an improbable quest or epic journey – usually to save humankind or the Earth against an invasion or oppression

• There are binary opposites of good and evil

TYPICAL CHARACTERS• Hero on an epic quest, often is either totally

arrogant or quite self-doubting. If arrogant, then he/she gets beaten down, but then pulls it back together and against-all-odds goes on to defeat the enemy. If self-doubting, then will question whether or not he/she is the right person (destined) to do the job – has to be convinced and developed before saving the world.

• Side-kicks, mentors, or helpers (sometimes human, sometimes not – often at least one of them dies) assist the hero

• Aliens or non-humans are the antagonists/villains (including robots, monsters, killer microbes, space creatures, androids, super-computers) – often the villains are stubborn and arrogant with cronies or soldiers to do the dirty work

STYLE AND VISUALS• Plenty of special effects and lavish costuming (to portray the

aliens, robots, spaceships, etc.)• Helmets, lasers, guns, metal• Often lots of explosions, crashes, and shoot-outs• Fast panning and tracking shots are used to follow the action and

create tension• Establishing shots show the futuristic city or space-ship before

moving in to closer shots• Lots of electronic equipment, computers, and technology that

seem too complicated for us to understand• Sometimes taps into the Horror genre codes and conventions to

add suspense and fear

THEMES• Dystopia – technological mis-utilization. The futures is

bleak, oppressive, and to be avoided.• Commentary on Societal and Cultural issues such as the

warning against over-use of technology, war, racism, ecological destruction, medical ethics (genetics), and one-world government oppression

• Express society’s anxiety about technology and the future