Architectural space and form in Science Fiction Cinema often mirrors the identity of the individual occupying that space on the screen. However, in such films, it does more than just create certain ways of delineating (and connoting) an environment which parallels the characters’ position within an area guaranteeing and legitimizing their need to be there. Architectural space in Science Fiction cinema is also a space that the audience is invited and allowed to travel through – to participate, to partake in. The audience finds their way through the space, and therefore, are forced to relate and identify with the space created by the architecture during the viewing of the film. This identification process by the audience is central to a proper and legitimate understanding of the film.
In this dissertation, I have chosen to analyse three films – all of them Science Fiction. My reason for choosing them was that I was intent upon finding some of the most interesting, thought provoking and effective ways architecture has been used to activate a response within viewers of film: a response, which is entirely justifiable, and extends to an unquestionable belief in the validity of the story taking place on the screen.
All three of the films chosen within this study raise specific issues in relation to the significance of ‘architectural space and form in Science Fiction cinema’.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Modernism, Metropolis, Blade Runner
- Chapter 2: The Fifth Element and Post-Modernism
- Chapter 3: Intersubjectivities, Alien, Giger and Gaudi
Objectives and Key Themes
This dissertation analyzes the use of architectural space and form in science fiction cinema, focusing on how these elements shape audience response and reflect the identities of characters within the films. The analysis explores the relationship between architectural design and the social and narrative structures of the films.
- The interplay between architectural space and character identity.
- The use of architectural design to create social commentary and critique.
- The evolution of architectural representation in science fiction films across different stylistic periods.
- The influence of specific architectural styles and movements (e.g., Modernism) on science fiction film aesthetics.
- The analysis of specific films to explore recurring themes and techniques in architectural representation.
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1: Modernism, Metropolis, Blade Runner: This chapter explores the historical context of architectural modernism and its influence on science fiction cinema. It examines the contrasting grand narratives surrounding modernism's rise and fall, referencing utopian city plans by figures like Le Corbusier. The chapter then analyzes Fritz Lang's *Metropolis* and Ridley Scott's *Blade Runner*, highlighting the binary oppositions (capitalist vs. worker, etc.) reflected in the architectural design of both films and their use of space to represent social hierarchies. The discussion focuses on how the architectural space in *Blade Runner* creates a dichotomy between urban and corporate spaces, mirroring the film's social commentary. The chapter uses *Metropolis* as a foundational text to understand the visual and thematic strategies employed in later science fiction films, demonstrating a strong link between the architectural space and the social structure represented within the film's narratives.
Chapter 2: The Fifth Element and Post-Modernism: [This section would contain a summary of Chapter 2, following the same guidelines as Chapter 1's summary. It should be at least 75 words and analyze the chapter's themes and arguments in detail. Since the provided text lacks Chapter 2 content, this summary cannot be completed.]
Chapter 3: Intersubjectivities, Alien, Giger and Gaudi: [This section would contain a summary of Chapter 3, following the same guidelines as Chapter 1's summary. It should be at least 75 words and analyze the chapter's themes and arguments in detail. Since the provided text lacks complete Chapter 3 content, this summary cannot be completed. The provided text offers a brief introduction to the chapter's focus on *Alien* and the relationship between its architecture and the characters' experiences, but not sufficient detail for a comprehensive summary.]
Keywords
Architectural space, science fiction cinema, modernism, post-modernism, urban design, social commentary, character identity, film analysis, *Metropolis*, *Blade Runner*, *The Fifth Element*, *Alien*, H.R. Giger, Antonio Gaudí, spatial dichotomy, dystopia, visual style.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Dissertation on Architectural Space in Science Fiction Cinema
What is the overall focus of this dissertation?
This dissertation analyzes how architectural space and form in science fiction films shape audience response and reflect character identities. It explores the relationship between architectural design and the social and narrative structures of the films, examining how architecture functions as a tool for social commentary and critique.
What are the key themes explored in the dissertation?
The key themes include the interplay between architectural space and character identity; the use of architectural design for social commentary; the evolution of architectural representation in science fiction across different stylistic periods; the influence of specific architectural styles (like Modernism) on science fiction film aesthetics; and the analysis of specific films to identify recurring themes and techniques in architectural representation.
Which films are analyzed in the dissertation?
The dissertation analyzes Metropolis, Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, and Alien, using them as case studies to explore the relationship between architecture and cinematic narrative.
What is the scope of Chapter 1 ("Modernism, Metropolis, Blade Runner")?
Chapter 1 examines the historical context of architectural modernism and its influence on science fiction cinema. It contrasts utopian city plans with the realities depicted in Metropolis and Blade Runner. The chapter focuses on how the architectural design in these films reflects binary oppositions (e.g., capitalist vs. worker) and uses space to represent social hierarchies. Metropolis is used as a foundational text to understand later films' visual and thematic strategies.
What is the planned scope of Chapter 2 ("The Fifth Element and Post-Modernism")?
Chapter 2 (summary not fully provided in the preview) would analyze The Fifth Element within the context of Post-Modernism, likely exploring how its architecture reflects and critiques post-modern societal structures and aesthetics.
What is the planned scope of Chapter 3 ("Intersubjectivities, Alien, Giger and Gaudí")?
Chapter 3 (summary not fully provided in the preview) would analyze Alien, focusing on the interrelationship between the film's architecture (influenced by H.R. Giger and Antoni Gaudí), and the characters' experiences and psychological states within that environment.
What are the keywords associated with this dissertation?
Keywords include architectural space, science fiction cinema, modernism, post-modernism, urban design, social commentary, character identity, film analysis, Metropolis, Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, Alien, H.R. Giger, Antonio Gaudí, spatial dichotomy, dystopia, and visual style.
What is the overall methodology of the dissertation?
The dissertation uses film analysis to explore the themes of architectural space, social commentary and character identity within the selected science fiction films. It employs a comparative approach, analyzing multiple films across different stylistic periods to identify recurring themes and techniques.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Cyrus Manasseh (Autor:in), 2000, Architectural Space and Form in Science Fiction Cinema. An Analysis of "Blade Runner" (1982), "The Fifth Element" (1997) and "Alien" (1979), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/305130
