A Critical Analysis of Duncan Joness Moon - Essay Example

? A Critical Analysis of Duncan Jones’s Moon By The following essay is a case study of Duncan Jones’s renowned movie Moon (2009 ). The movie is a science fiction presentation of the future , whereby an individual by the name Sam Bell who plays the role of a superintendent, is in charge of a moon mine. The movie setup represents a futuristic aspect whereby human beings have managed to solve their fuel problems, and hence managed to substitute the earthly fuel reserves with newly discovered oil supplements on the moon. Therefore, Sam’s role was to make observations, and communicate with other members of the extraction team on earth. For, a common case, human beings perceive science fiction to be associated with scientific innovations and matters concerning the space and the moon in general. Human being's perception about science fiction involves the belief that the moon and other features found within the earths galaxy basically indicated untapped fields. As a result , most of the scriptwriters and movie directors tend to incorporate the aspects of complex machinery, with amazing features and abilities. This feature basically forms an illusion that some of the features that are relayed in the movies will be realized after a number of years. This feature makes up the entire content of the science fiction movies. The features will be the basis of discussion in the following essay. The movie moon, clearly illustrated the various innovations that the modern day scientist has not been able to achieve. It is a clear reflection of the scientific milestones that human beings hope to achieve in the near future. According to the movie, the human being character exhibited , gives the impression that the post -modern human being is surely and educated on the various earthly complications, that affect life, on the surface of the earth. Secondly, the human being exhibited in the movie is also knowledgeable about the various environmental implications of mining, and the results of disruption of activities in the biosphere. According to Science Tech Story (2013), Science fiction movies are usually far from reality. The Creators of such movies, do not usually have the real data and reference material that can back up their illustrations. They base their work on mere speculation, and also the relation to the present innovations, that have come up in comparison to the previously produced science fiction films. In comparison to Cinema, science fiction according to Bradshaw. P (2009), takes an animated view, most of the highlighted subjects are usually fabricated, or the authors merely make an assumption of futuristic occurrences. Generally, the information reflected upon is entirely false, or there is some little bit of truth in it. Scott. A.O ( 2009), noted that science fiction movies tend to adopt some of the already proven information. In addition, they make certain alterations to it, in order to enable people to relate to it, which might in a way influence how they respond to the movie. A cinema on the other hand is not different from science fiction, according to Velasco. R. J (2013), cinema is basically the British name for movie theatres. Science fiction is in itself a component of both cinema and television. Many schools may hold the opinion that one is the improvement of the other, but in real sense both are different from each other. Science fiction is a field that is endowed with numerous scientific modifications. To be able to come up with efficient technology, involving both cinema and television viewing, there must be an application of efficient technological advancements that back up this invention. This among other issues generally relates to both fields. Science fiction is a field related to advancement in technological creations. Some of the innovations made in the yester years that served as key indicators of the changes are displayed by the televisions. Science fiction relays the future as time with significant changes in motion. When the same is compared to both the television and cinema, it is clear that they also display such changes in motion. In the movie Moon (2008), some of the technological changes that are evident in the movie, yes The change in machine control and features. The changes indicate that machines can be more personalized in order to suit the preferences of each human being. Clearly the machine by the name Gerty, is well programmed to relate directly to the various emotional variations in human beings. This form of relaying information is the same case that also applies to the televisions. The creators tap into the relay system and manage to make changes in output presentation. Generally science fiction according to Cook and Wright (2005) involves the concept that some of the changes experienced in the science fiction movies, are achievable through the televisions and cinema display. The movie Moon (2008) is a representation of human distress and isolation. The clear theme developed in the movie, is a clear indication that technological advancement do not solve most of the human emotional aspects. The movie moon displays the technological advancement, as a substitute for all the other commonly used links. The machinery displayed in the movie does not necessarily cause comfort to Sam Bell, Gerty is just a device that makes several conversations with Sam. According to expectations, Sam would feel a sense of companionship or compassion to the scientific gadget, but on the contrary we find him feeling lonely and making video calls to his family on earth. One clear thing in the movie is that Sam lost hope and a sense of conviction towards looking upon his life. All these facts are geared towards indicating that far from common human belief, that technology can solve most of the human being’s companionship problems. The movie refutes this idea, and holds the idea that technology only mitigates on how jobs are done. Franklin (2011) states that science fiction is a form of fantasy that is created by human beings to air out their expectations of the future modifications. He acknowledges that science fiction directors come up with ideas that they purport to be original. Clearly, science fiction is a fictional representation, that clearly represents the human imagination and future expectations. He clearly illustrates that some of the content displayed in the science fiction movies has come to pass. In light of this indication, it is clear that the lie detector that had been used in some of the ancients science fiction movies has been developed. The trend that emerges in the science fiction movies, that represent the exploration of the space and other features that fit human imagination are used as a matter of reference in the movies. The historical aspects of science fiction are the only field that can be used to clearly reveal the historical advancement of the human species, and at the same time form a chronological account of the changes that have been experienced by man down the years. Clearly science fiction accounts of the daily human lives, and also the historical changes that have been experienced to date, according to Franklin (2011). Science fiction has features that stretch back to over two thousand years, it accounts for every single innovation that man uses to date, and as indicated earlier it clearly illustrates the advancements in both the visual and literature exhibits. Sandbrook (2007) states that, most science fiction directors have been able to clearly define the movie industry. In previous years the field was faced with clearly unachievable aspects which with time have been changed and a sense of truth and expected accomplishment has been realized. Wilson (1851) was the first person who clearly highlighted in the science fiction field . He clearly illustrated that the field may be clouded by poetical scientific facts. In relation to history and culture, science fiction gives a sudden twist of satire and irony, clearly changing some of the ancient experiences such as the literature written about the “epic voyage by Lucian Of Samosata” according to Franklin (2011), and gives the story a modification to suit the content of science fiction. Clearly science fiction also adopts some of the histories written literature that were only meant to create a feeling of fantasy. Secondly, science fiction adapts some of this literature and incorporates some of the commonly known facts and tries to present them as truth. According to Elhefnawy (2009) the collapse of the soviet union and the changes of the world market to a single market, where some of the unexpected changes in the science fiction field. According to many observers, the end of the cold war seemed to indicate a change in inventions, creations and basically new ideologies. But on the contrary the bad blood that had been created seemed to be overshadowed by newly discovered forms of peace, and also new formulations in the fields of leadership. The era of muscled leadership, which the field of science fiction did not anticipate change, considerably changed by the United States, and some of its western allies adapting the new forms of leadership. The pre- war period was occasioned by new scientific inventions, biological modifications and also inventions of newly discovered weapons. This among other war related inventions were the major highlights of the science fiction representations. But with the end of the war period, the science fiction fanatics suffered a huge blow when the various governments introduced a new way that discouraged such revelations. Secondly, according to Geraghty (2009), the movie directors struggled to stay relevant regardless of the fact that, the science fiction field is viewed to be fictional. According to Obelkevich (1994), the society is not only defined by social structures and set policies, there are other factors that are usually responsible for the condition of the society. Factors that shape up people’s life styles, their perception and how they analyze certain things clearly indicates the position of the society. Sandbrook (2006), in addition stated that the attitude and the day to day experiences, are the main influences of the society in general. People do not conform to the set trends and expectations of the society, but instead they create their own ways around new things . Generally, human beings are not independent creatures they are influenced by other factors beyond their control. The movie Moon (2008), illustrated some of the changes that all human beings tend to conform to. The character represented in the movie, is of a developed society that is clearly independent of it. Notably, according to Grimley (2011), man is presented as dependent creature, some of the activities that are performed are mainly run by machines. In light of this view, it is clear that man is adapted to any situation, although at times, he is inconvenienced by his nature, among other societal responses. According to Gunn, Barr and Candlearia (2009) most pundits analyze science fiction material, without concentrating on the major societal implications that the movies tend to analyze. As quoted earlier, science fiction movies usually have a sense of truth in them. The perception that most science fiction material is usually fictional, clouds people’s judgment on the actual truth that some of the movies try to portray. Science fiction fans tend to have a preset view, that the information relayed in science fiction is basically fictional. Edgar (2006), indicates that some of the content relayed in the movies usually have truth in them, and the concerned authorities ought to heed to these indications to avoid bad implications. Hollings (2008), in his view indicated the conditions that are present on Mars. In relation to the movie Moon (2009) both hold the same view that the space and other bodies have untapped resources. Science fiction fans must hold the view that some of these indications may have some truth in them. In reference to Telotte (2008), the societal implications of science fiction are enlightening, as it indicates some of the past occurrences and the future expectations. In reference to the Star Wars trilogy, it gives an indication of the war period and the constant disagreement and strive for power resulting from varied ideas, which can generally be associated with the main causes that led to the emergence of the wars. In conclusion, it is notable that science fiction holds an important role in the society. At some level, it is clear that science fiction gives an account of the various trends that are experienced in the present world. References 1. Bradley, D. (2009) Project MUSE - Reading Science Fiction (review): Project MUSE. Available at: http://muse.jhu.edu/login?auth=0&type=summary&url=/journals/stu(Accessed: April 27, 2013). 2. Bradshaw, P. (2009) Film review: Moon. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jul/17/film-review-moon-sam-rockwell (Accessed: April 27, 2013). 3. Cook, J.& Wright, P. (2005) British Science Fiction Television: A Hitchhiker’s Guide. I B Tauris & Co Ltd: London. 4. Elhefnawy, N. (2009) Science Fiction and the Post Cold War: The Internet Review of Science Fiction.Available at:http://www.irosf.com/q/zine//article/10498(Accessed: April 27, 2013). 5. Franklin, H. Bruce (2008) Science Fiction: The Early History. Available at:http://Andromeda.rutgers.edu/~hbf/sfhist.html(Accessed: April 27, 2013). 6. Geraghty, L. (2009) American Science Fiction Film and Television. Berg: New York. 7. Grimley, A. (n.d.). Movie Review: Moon: An Existential Sci-fi Thriller. Available at: http://blogcritics.org/video/article/movie-review-moon-an-existential-sci/(Accessed: April 27, 2013). 8. Gunn, Barr & Candlearia (eds.) (2009) Reading Science Fiction Palgrave. MacMillan: New York. 9. Hollings, K (2008) Welcome to Mars: Fantasies of Science in the American Century. Strange Attractor: New York 10. James, Nick (2010) The Pearl War: Skyship Academy. Woodbury, Minn. 11. Lloyd, Saci (2009) The Carbon Diaries: Young Adult. New York: Holiday House 12. Lloyd, Saci (2010) The Carbon Diaries. New York: Holiday House: Young Adult 13. Obelkevich (ed.) (1994) Understanding Post War British Society. Routledge Booker: M. K. 14. Sandbrook, D. (2006) Never Had It So Good: A History of Britain from Suez to the Beatles. Abacus: London. 15. Sandbrook, D. (2007) White Heat: A History of Britain in the Swinging Sixties. Abacus: London. 16. SciTechStory (2013) Moon. (n.d.). | Tracking the impact of science and technology, Available at: http://scitechstory.com/2010/10/23/sf-review-moon/(Accessed on April 27, 2013). 17. SCOTT, A. O. (2009)Planet Earth Is Blue and Far Away in Duncan Jonesa: The New York Times. Available at: http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/movies/12moon.html?_r=1 18. Shute, Nevil. On the Beach. Cutchogue, N.Y.: Buccaneer Books, 1985. Call Number: Fiction PR6027O54 O5 1985 19. Telotte, J.P (2008). The Essential Science Fiction Television Reader: The University Press of Kentucky, Kentucky. 20. Van Eekhout, Greg. (2011) The Boy at the End of the World. Bloomsbury: New York. Read More