Invasion as metaphor : science-fiction cinema and american social problems in the cold war era

Bibliogr., streszcz. po ang.

This essay raises the issue of the representation of the atomic bomb anxiety in the science-fiction movies in the 1950s. This study uses a framework of the anxiety states in American society, which emerged at the beginning of the Cold War. I analyze two movies: Invaders from Mars (1953) directed by William Menzies and Robot Monster (1953) directed by Phil Tucker. As I want to show, these films depict and comment on the American fear of nuclear warfare, representing it in the guise of confrontation with the Aliens. In particular scenes I identify stereotypes, which the American society created about the Soviets and the nuclear threat. I consider a critical approach of these movies to the political and social situation of 1950s, as opposed to other scholars, who misjudge the science-fiction stories calling them secondary, banal and naive. On the one hand, the science-fiction cinema alleviated the anxiety of the audience, showing every time that Americans defeat the Aliens. Thus science-fiction movies became a channel of governmental propaganda. On the other hand, these movies diagnose paranoia incumbent in the society. Thus, I take issue with Susan Sontag’s argument that "there is absolutely no social criticism, of even the most implicit kind, in science fiction films". I contend that science-fiction movies recognize and comment on the situation of the American society, envisaged as a child dreaming about its own power, but unable to protect the country.