When talking about the perception of aliens of today ET is a perfect example of how our societal viewpoints have changed in regard to our perception of the alien. In the film ET, Elliott fits the basic (human) characteristic not only physically but emotionally whereas the alien ‘ET’ presumably to fits the alien/non-human physical characteristic because he is indeed an alien from another planet. However, ‘ET’ shows human characteristics in that he expresses “feelings and emotions” (2) which go against the belief that alien/non-human beings are not able to express basic human emotions.
The film Robocop also is an example of how a non-human figure can have the ability to have human characteristics. This reconstructed body of the former Detroit police officer, formally known as Murphy is a cyborg created to fight the escalating crime problem that is destroying the city. This cyborg was created to prevent the death of those on the police force, this idea of using metal which could deflect bullets seemed like a very good idea because the human body is not designed to take such punishment. However, Murphy is not your typical cyborg, because his memory returned as the film progressed which ultimately allowed him to bring the people who were involved in his murder to justice. The idea of Murphy having dreams and a memory contradicts the assumption held that “humans simply have feelings while non-humans simply do not” (3) shows that Murphy is in fact not a replicant because he shows human characteristics. While Murphy shows human characteristics there is also the fear that comes out of this situation because a powerful cyborg like this could get out of control and create more problems than solutions, however in this case Murphy proved that the non-human could in fact be the good guy changing the postmodern viewpoint of cyborgs which labeled were as bad because they were nonhuman.
This idea of using the alien in these films is a good way of showing the racial and cultural issues that are occurring within our society. These films were created in the attempt to change the perception of the alien/non-human during this period of time. These films were focused on racial and ethnic identity. The film ET shows that “the alien Other is valued for being un-marked as alien or other, for being different just like us, only no more so than an/other alienated and spaced out being” (1) which shows that the cultural opinion of being different is not bad, it is what makes each human unique from another. The main characters acceptance of the alien signifies how this film tries to show that Elliott looked past ET’s physical appearance and treated ‘ET’ just like he was human which was showing the audience just because someone’s physical appearance is different doesn’t mean they should be treated any in a negative way.
The film Robocop addresses the issue of race in a way that shows the audience the initial fear and curiosity people had with the new hero that was in the city of Detroit. The fear was that this cyborg and would take over the city and could possibly take over the entire world which “can be read as playing out the fears of white Americans concerning the civil rights movement and the violent, racial confrontations of the period” (4) when comparing the civil rights movement of the African Americans to this new movement of the cyborg being part or possibly replacing the police force would be an example of such a movement. The cyborg could be a representation of the African American of the 1960’s whereas the police officers a representation of the ‘White Americans’ of that period of time. This idea of Robocop being a different race fits because he does not physically look like the typical human being. However, he shared some human characteristics which allowed him to relate to the human. By ‘Robocop’ fighting crime it showed that he was just like any other police officer. The film proved that cyborg was indeed on the same team as the rest of the police officers showing that he was no different than any of the other police officers.
Both films tended to rally behind the main characters to insure their success. In the film ET, a good example of this was when Elliott and his siblings kept ‘ET’ a secret from their mother as well as the government. Both siblings were kind of weary of this little alien but eventually grew to accept him. When Elliott and ‘ET’ were in the portable scientific lab that was set up at his mom’s house Elliott helped ‘ET’ escape the scientists and the police officers. The reasoning behind this is he wanted to help ‘ET’ return home.
In Robocop, the rally involved Murphy’s former partner officer Anne Lewis who recognized him by the little move he made with his gun during target practice. With her speaking with him paved the way for Murphy to have flash backs of his previous life which lead him to getting the corruption and crime out of the city and giving the police officers their jobs back.
In closing these two films had a lot of meaning when focusing on the issue of alien/non-human to that of the human being itself. ET and Murphy both showed that the alien and non-human can have human characteristics even though they are technically not human physically. This idea of looking a being in a physical way can be attributed to how we look at race. These films used issue of race in our society and showed that the characters in these films can look past differences and help each other out.
References:
Films:
Robocop, dir, Paul Verhoeven, per. Peter Weller, Ronny Cox, and Kurtwood Smith,
1987, DVD, 1987.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, dir, Steven Spielberg, per. Henry Thomas, Robert
MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, and Peter Coyote, 1982, DVD,
2002.
Textbook/Articles:
Cornea, Christine. “Science Fiction Cinema, Between Fantasy and Reality.” Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2007
“Embracing the Alien, Erasing Alienation.” Screening Space:
The American Science Fiction Film. 2nd ed. New Brunswick: Rutgers
University Press, 1997. 292-297. (124-127)
Citations:
(1) Sobchack, Vivian. “Embracing the Alien, Erasing Alienation.” Screening Space:
The American Science Fiction Film. 2nd ed. New Brunswick: Rutgers
University Press, 1997. 292-297. (124-127)
(2) Bruno, Giuliana. “Ramble City: Postmodernism and Blade Runner.” Alien Zone: Cultural Theory and Contemporary Science Fiction Cinema. Ed. Annette Kuhn London and New York: Verso Press, 1990. 183-195. (CR 67-73)
(3) Bukatman, Scott. “Replicants and Alien Life.” Blade Runner. BFI Modern Classics Series. Ed. Rob White. London: British Film Institute, 1997. 64-91. (CR 53-66)
(4) Cornea, Christine. “Science Fiction Cinema, Between Fantasy and Reality.” Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2007
