Science fiction film is "a film genre which emphasizes actual, extrapolative, or speculative science and the empirical method, interacting in a social context with the lesser emphasized, but still present, transcendentalism of magic and religion, in an attempt to reconcile man with the unknown" (Sobchak 63).
This definition assumes that a continuum exists between empiricism and transcendentalism with science fiction film on the side of empiricism and horror film and fantasy film on the side of transcendentalism.
The visual style of science fiction film can be characterized by a clash between alien and familiar images. This clash is implemented in the following ways:
Sobchak, Vivian. Screening Space: The American Science Fiction Film. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1998.
See also: List of science fiction filmsVisual Style
Works Cited