Hudson 1 Michael Hudson Professor Grajeda ENG 4114:0001 April 30, 2012 Alien as Discussion and Displace en!

of "on!e porar# $ssues %idle# &co!!'s fa ous science fic!ion horror for o(ie, Alien, ori)inall# released

o(ie !hea!ers in 1*+*, is ,ased on !he !i!ular an!a)onis! !ha! a!!e p!s !o

con!rol and ul!i a!el# -ill all of !he hu an charac!ers. /he cre0 of !he ship !ha! lands on !he forei)n plane! holdin) !he alien in 1ues!ion is ori)inall# una0are of !heir purpose or reason for ,ein) on !he plane!, ,u! i! is la!er !he unna ed 2co pan#3 !he cre0 0or-s for has sen! !he cap!ure !he life for !ha! is in!en! on -illin) !he all. /he ade -no0n !ha!

!o !his plane! !o indless an!a)onis!

ul!i a!el# eli ina!es !he en!ire cre0 e4cep!in) onl# !he pro!a)onis!, one of !he onl# fe ale occupan!s of !he ori)inal ship, as she finall# !riu phs o(er !he alien and re!urns !o Ear!h. 5ne aspec! of !his fil !ha! dis!in)uishes i!self cons!an!l#

!hrou)hou! !he fea!ure is i!s s!a!us as an 2i a)inar#3 !e4!, or !he presence of a pos!6i perialis! propa)anda or essa)e !o !he fil . /his aspec! of !he fil re(eals

!he represen!a!ion of !he alien 2o!her3 as an i a)e of !he na!i(e or ,ar,arian and !ouches on i perialis! or colonial fears of !his 2o!her3 as 0ell as !he ad(ersi!# and opposi!ion !o0ards i!. Ano!her in !he fil ore con!e porar# issue !ha! possess a presence

is i!s a!!e p! !o disperse or relie(e an4ie!ies re)ardin) se4uali!# and

)ender roles in !he !i e of i!s release. /he asser!i(e, in!elli)en!, e!hical, and ul!i a!el# (ic!orious represen!a!ion of !he fe ale pro!a)onis! alon) 0i!h her

Hudson 2 appearance and posi!ion ,ein) e1ual !o !ha! of !he do ina!ion of !he ale cre0 and !he 7se4ual8

ales prior !o her des!ruc!ion of !he an!a)onis!ic alien all ser(e

!o confuse, discuss, and e(en re(erse )ender roles and socie!al preconcep!ions of se4. 9inall#, !he conflic! ,e!0een hu ani!# and science, !he fu!ure, and ad(ance en!, is a clear poin! of in!eres! in !his fil . /he alien, !he android e ,er of !he cre0, and !he 2co pan#3 !he cre0 0or-s for are presen!ed in a ne)a!i(e li)h!, pri(ile)in) hu ani!# and hi)hli)h!in) science and ad(ance en! as !hrea!s !o hu ans and hu an (alues. &co!!'s Alien discusses an# issues and

an4ie!ies of !he !i e i! 0as released in, includin) neo6i perialis! fears of !he na!i(e 2o!her3, issues and an4ie!ies of con!e porar# )ender roles, and hu an fears of science and !he fu!ure, and !hese dialo)ue, ca era an)les, essa)es are presen!ed usin)

ise6en6scene, and narra!i(e s!ruc!ure !o ul!i a!el#

displace !hese con!e4!ual issues !hrou)h !heir anal#sis and discussion in !he fil . An issue !ha! re(eals i!self !o !a-e par! in al os! e(er# aspec! of !he fil is

!ha! of !he alien represen!ed as a neo6colonial na!i(e or sa(a)e 2o!her3 and !his dis!in)uishes !he o(ie as an e4a ple of :anMoha ed's 2i a)inar#3 !e4!. /he alon) 0i!h !he se!!in) of as 0ell as

,eha(ior and na!ure of !he alien an!a)onis! of !he fil

!he ,arren plane! ser(es !o crea!e a colonial ,ac-)round !o !he fil

dra0 a connec!ion ,e!0een !he i perial sa(a)e or ,ar,arian and !he alien. /he os! o,(ious iden!ifiers of !he alien's ,ar,aric na!ure are i!s na!ural and in(iola,le -illin) in!en!, i!s inheren! dissi ilari!# fro !he hu an cre0, and !he alien's

a!!e p!s !o corrup! and disrup! hu an (alues. 9ur!her ore, al os! e(er# aspec! and de!ail of !he alien ser(e !o separa!e, dis!in)uish, or dra0 ,inar# opposi!ions

Hudson 3 a)ains! !he hu an charac!ers of !he fil , successfull# crea!in) and pro o!in) !he alien's iden!i!# as !he 2o!her.3 Ano!her aspec! of !he fil appearance of pos!6i perialis! ideals in !his fil !ha! hi)hli)h!s !he

is !he se!!in) in space and

fur!her ore on a see in)l# ,arren and hospi!a,le plane! inha,i!ed onl# ,# !he na!i(e alien 2o!her,3 replica!in) an i a)e of colonial fears and an4ie!ies re)ardin) !he forei)ner or !he sa(a)e's land. A helpful descrip!ion of !he neo6colonial issues a! hand in !his o(ie can ,e

found in :anMoha ed's idea of !he 2i a)inar#3 !e4!, 0hich illus!ra!es !he concep! of su,li inal propa)anda as a conse1uence of a percei(ed need !o dis!ance !he self fro !he 2o!her.3 He e4pounds upon !he na!ure of !he 2i a)inar#3 !e4! 0hen

he sa#s, 2!he na!i(e func!ions as an represen!a!ion of !he i perialis! self in such a anner !ha! i! re(eals !he la!!er's self6aliena!ion.3 As a resul!, !he colonialis! self see-s !o aliena!e !he 2o!her3 as i! 2re!rea!s !o !he ho o)enei!# of his o0n )roup,3 or !ries !o appeal !o i!s o0n cul!ure 0hile rejec!in) and dis!ancin) i!self fro !he

na!i(e 2o!her,3 in !his case !he an!a)onis! 7:anMoha ed ;<8. /he produc! of !his process is !he 2i a)inar#3 !e4!, 0hich is indica!ed pri aril# ,# 2o,jec!ifica!ion and a))ression3 and finall# see-s !o aliena!e, dis!in)uish a)ains!, and direc! ha!red !o0ards !he 2o!her.3 /hrou)h !he use of !his descrip!ion, i! is eas# !o see ho0 !he sa(a)e na!i(e is represen!ed ,# !he alien an!a)onis! in !his fil especiall# in li)h! of

:anMoha ed's s!a!e en! !ha!, 2in !he 'i a)inar#' colonialis! real , !o sa# 'na!i(e' is au!o a!icall# !o sa# 'e(il'3 7:anMoha ed ;<8. /he an!a)onis! is cons!ruc!ed in !he fil as a pure, (iolen! an!i!hesis !o !he hu ani!#, !he i perialis! na!ure, and

Hudson 4 e(en )oodness i!self as i! see-s onl# !he des!ruc!ion and do0nfall of !he ci(il and ra!ional hu an charac!ers of !he fil . /his idea of !he alien as an en!i!# concerned al os! solel# 0i!h !he disrup!ion of hu an (alues and fur!her ore des!ruc!ion i!self is cen!ral !o i!s represen!a!ion as !he 2o!her.3 5ne e4a ple of !his opposi!ion !o socie!al s!andards and i perialis! (alues !ha! re(eals i!self in !he !e4! is in !he alien's apparen! or s# ,olic rape and su,se1uen! i pre)na!ion of !he ale cre0 e ,er of !he ship, =ane. /he crea!ure a!!aches i!self !o =ane's

face and plan!s e))s in his s!o ach, ul!i a!el# resul!in) in his dea!h as !he ju(enile for of !he alien erup!s fro his s!o ach la!er in !he fil , -illin) hi an and

,efore escapin). /he alien isola!es i!self as ,o!h e(il and an ene # !o

an-ind's (alues in !his e4a ple, and !his is essen!ial !o !he alien's i a)e as !he na!i(e 2o!her3 in !he fil . >!ili?in) !his represen!a!ion of !he alien as e(il, !he fil is !hen a,le !o dra0

o,(ious ,inar# opposi!ions ,e!0een !he an!a)onis! and !he cre0 a!!e p!in) !o sur(i(e. Ed0ard &aid's idea of 5rien!alis is applica,le !o !his ,inar# dis!inc!ions

ade ,e!0een !he i perialis! self and !he 2o!her,3 as descri,ed 0hen he sa#s, 25rien!alis 0as ul!i a!el# a poli!ical (ision of reali!# 0hose s!ruc!ure pro o!ed

!he difference ,e!0een !he fa iliar 7Europe, !he @es!, 2us38 and !he s!ran)e 7!he 5rien!, !he Eas!, 2!he 383 7&aid 438. /he fil crea!es o,(ious ,inar# opposi!ions

,e!0een !he alien and !he hu ans in !he fil , and !hese dis!inc!ions ser(e !o isola!e !he an!a)onis! as !he unrela!a,le and e(il 2o!her.3 5ne opposi!ion !ha! pla#s an i por!an! role in i!s por!ra#al is !ha! of !he se4ual a ,i)ui!# of !he alien as opposed !o !he hu ans. /he o,(ious e4a ple of !he crea!ure's se4ual

Hudson 5 a ,i)ui!# and disrup!ion of !he s!andards of se4uali!# is seen in !he alien's apparen! rape of one of !he cre0 e ,ers, ,u! !his is no! !he onl# 0a# !he alien

uddles and confuses )ender in !he fil . /he na!ure of !he alien's cos!u e, or i!s appearance in !he fil , is also su))es!i(e of an un-no0a,le se4ual iden!i!#, as i! possesses no ou!s!andin) se4ual charac!eris!ics as reco)ni?a,le fro perspec!i(e and !he alien's head and second a hu an

ou!h !ha! i! uses !o -ill !he cre0

are o,(ious phallic s# ,ols. 5ne se) en! in 0hich !his phallic s# ,ol is e phasi?ed specificall# is !he scene in 0hich Are!! is -illed ,# !he alien 0hile he is searchin) for !he ca! !he cre0 -eeps. /he ca era ?oo s in on and closel# follo0s !he alien's face as i! slo0l# and deli,era!el# re(eals i!s !on)ue or second ,efore ,ru!all# s!a,,in) !he ou!h

an !hrou)h !he head 0i!h !his fea!ure, enac!in) a an !ha! is capi!ali?ed on ,# !he

li!eral -illin) and a s# ,olic rape of !he deli,era!e ca era an)les of !he scene. /he final aspec! of !he fil !he fil

!ha! e phasi?es a neo6colonial perspec!i(e in

is !he se!!in) !ha! clearl# is represen!a!i(e of !he colonial se!!in),

especiall# considerin) !he na!i(e inha,i!an! of !he fil . /he firs! de!ail of !he se!!in) !ha! rela!es !o !his co parison is !he ,ac-)round of space, in 0hich par! of !he o(ie !a-es place and is lin-ed !o !he plane! !he cre0 lands on. &pace is

por!ra#ed and i a)ined !o ,e inhospi!a,le, ,arren and ul!i a!el# hos!ile, rela!in) !o !he idea of !he uncoloni?ed or unci(ili?ed land. Ho0e(er !he aspec! of !he se!!in) !ha! reall# applies !o !his idea of !he fil as an 2i a)inar#3 !e4! is seen in

!he ,lea- and dull plane! !he cre0 firs! disco(ers !he alien 2o!her3 on. /he so e0ha! dis!ur,in) se!!in) of !he plane! alon) 0i!h i!s appearance as an e p!#

Hudson 6 and 7fro an i perialis! perspec!i(e8 useless place e phasi?es !he hos!ile

i pression !ha! is ori)inall# pro o!ed ,# !he se!!in) in space and in !his 0a# al os! ,eco es an e4!ension of !he e(il in!en! and desire for disrup!ion of hu an (alues !he 2o!her3 represen!s. /he se!!in) no! onl# encoura)es !he e(il na!ure of !he 2o!her3 ,u! fur!her ore lends i!s o0n i perialis! an4ie!ies and fears !o !he analo)# of !he 2i a)inar#3 !e4!, appealin) !o !he fear of !he des!ruc!ion and dissipa!ion of socie!al (alues in ,lea- and e p!# land of !he na!i(e. Addi!ionall#, !he ise6en6scene of !he se!!in) upon essen!ial !o !he fore,odin) and haun!in)

na!ure of !he en(iron en!. Perhaps !he ,es! e4a ple of !his is seen 0hen =ane en!ers 0ha! appears !o ,e so e for of spacecraf! and passes ,# 0ha! appears

!o ,e a hu anoid s-ele!on fi)ure rou)hl# !hree or four !i es !he si?e of an a(era)e hu an in a fu!uris!ic chair a!!ached !o so e for of echanical de(ice

7,# all appearances a !elescope8. /he dea!h of !he crea!ure is no! full# e4plained 7!hou)h !here is a ,arel# discerni,le hole in !he ches! of !he hu anoid fi)ure appro4i a!el# in !he sa e place !he alien ,urs! fro =ane's ches!8 ,u! !he

a! osphere of dea!h lends #e! ano!her ,arren and dis!ur,in) aspec! !o !he haun!in) se!!in). /hrou)h !hese e4a ples !he role of !he fil as a su,conscious

pos!6i perialis! propa)anda as descri,ed ,# :anMoha ed's defini!ion of !he 2i a)inar#3 !e4! is eas# !o see, ,u! !he o(ies connec!ion 0i!h ore ore rele(an! !o

con!e porar# issues of )ender e1uali!# and 0o en's ri)h!s are !he con!e4! of !he fil 's release in so e aspec!s.

@o en's ri)h!s and !he e1uali!# of )ender are )i(en si)nifican! a!!en!ion in !he fil and !he narra!i(e of !he fil alon) 0i!h !he dialo)ue are clearl# seen !o

Hudson 7 approach !his !opic. $n !he si ples! 0a# possi,le, !he )ender roles ,# a-in) %iple#, !he o(ie re(erses !#pical

ain charac!er and pro!a)onis! of !he fil , a

0o an. @hile !his is no! en!irel# unheard of in !he his!or# of cine a, i! cer!ainl# de(ia!es fro !he !radi!ional socie!al (alues of !his !i e as ore e phasis, ale

si)nificance, and focus are )i(en !o !he fe ale charac!er !han an# of !he charac!ers in a !i e 0hen

en possess !he pri(ile)ed posi!ion in socie!#. As a-es

Ne0!on sa#s in her ar!icle 0hile descri,in) %iple#, 2%iple# is s-illedB she hard, unsen!i en!al decisionsB she is a fir

,u! hu ane leaderB she has !he ons!er3 7Ne0!on

hero's !radi!ional, and !hrillin), resources in !he face of !he 2*48.

5ne of !he 0a#s %iple#'s charac!er re(erses )ender roles and )i(es 0o an po0er in !his fil is in her charac!er's possession of posi!i(e !rai!s !ha! are no! en. An e4a ple of !hese

asculine, ,u! are !#picall# or !radi!ionall# reser(ed !o

!rai!s is seen in her 2unsen!i en!al3 or ra!ional na!ure and her asser!i(e personali!#. /his is perhaps ,es! seen in %iple#'s dialo)ue 0i!h Dallas as she refuses !o per i! !he en!r# of =ane in!o !he ship af!er !he alien has a!!ached i!self !o his face. @hile Dallas ar)ues for !he sa-e of !he an's life and e(en uses his

au!hori!# as cap!ain of !he ship !o ,rea- pro!ocol !o0ards !his end, %iple# ain!ains her co posure and !ells !he an !ha! she 0ill no! allo0 hi a,oard

since i! is a)ains! s!andard 1uaran!ine procedure and cre0. Ca ,er!, ano!her

a# endan)er !he en!ire

e ,er of !he cre0, ad onishes her passiona!el# sa#in), inside,3

2Coo-, could #ou open !he )od6da ned ha!chD @e ha(e !o )e! hi pro p!l# follo0ed ,# %iple#'s cal

reser(ed response, 2No. $ can'! do !ha! and if

Hudson 8 #ou 0ere in # posi!ion, #ou'd do !he sa e3 7Alien8. $n !his scene, !he o!her cre0

e ,ers, 0hile e4pressin) e!hical ar)u en!s, are hea(il# influenced ,# !heir e o!ional in(es! en! in !he issue, 0hile %iple# isola!es herself as !he onl# ra!ional and collec!ed par!icipan! of !he dialo)ue. $n !he end %iple# is una,le !o pre(en! !he cre0 fro e ,er a,oard, !he resul! of 0hich is !he dea!h of e(er# accep!in) !he infec!ed e ,er of !he cre0

e4cep!in) onl# %iple#. /he i plica!ions of !his are o,(ious, as !he (eraci!# of %iple#'s jud)e en! !ha!, 2...if 0e ,rea- 1uaran!ine, 0e could all die3 and her decision !o pre(en! !he an fro ,oardin) !he ship are re(ealed !o ,e correc!, ,u! ore a,le !han !he

!his is no! !he onl# 0a# %iple# is re(ealed !o ,e superior or ale

e ,ers of !he cre0 7Alien8. %iple#'s ul!i a!e defea! of !he insur oun!a,le e ,er la!er re(ealed !o ,e an ore

alien and in!ui!i(e dis!rus! of Ash, !he cre0

android 0ho ,e!ra#s !he cre0 for !he co pan#, ,o!h presen! %iple# as capa,le and a,le !han !he o!her charac!ers in !he

o(ie. Especiall# seen in !he

anner of !he alien's defea!, as she craf!il# u!ili?es !he escape shu!!le's en)ines !o launch !he alien in!o e p!# space, %iple# re(eals herself !o ,e perhaps ore in!elli)en! !han !he o!her e ,ers of !he cre0. is no! e4clusi(e !o !he ore a,le and

Ho0e(er, !he considera!ion of )ender roles in !he fil presen!a!ion of %iple# as superior !o !he ale

e ,ers of !he cre0, as in so e

ins!ances !he discourse on )ender roles and !heir fluc!ua!ion in con!e porar# socie!# !a-es for ,e)innin) of !he fil in !he si ple e1uali!# of !he !0o se4es sho0n especiall# in !he 0hen !he cre0 firs! a0a-ens fro cr#o)enic sleep. $n !he

scene !he en!ire cre0 0a-es up half6dressed and !he issue of )ender is ne(er

Hudson 9 approached as !he en!ire cre0 !rea!s each o!her !he sa e, or a! leas! si ilarl# 0i!h personal )rud)es or differences affec!in) !heir !rea! en! of each o!her. $ndeed %iple#'s and Ca ,er!'s posi!ion as !he onl# !0o fe ales a,oard !he cre0 70i!h !he possi,le addi!ion of !he ship's co pu!er, 2 o!her38 of a ship popula!ed predo ina!el# ,# en is apparen!l# i)nored ,# !he en!ire cre0 and !he 0o en en despi!e !he fac! !ha! !he# all 0a-e up

recei(es !he sa e !rea! en! as !he 0i!h li!!le clo!hin) on.

/hese issues of )ender roles in !his fil

also possess con!e4!ual rele(ance

as !he# e4plore issues !ha! 0ere i por!an! a! !he !i e of !he fil 's release. As 9i!!in) sa#s in his ar!icle, 2...!he cre0 of se(en includes !0o 0o en and one ,lac-...a,le !o in!e)ra!e in!o i! ,lac-s and 0o en E !0o )roups 0hose s!ru))les for e ancipa!ion and e1uali!# ha(e in!ensified !he in!ernal crisis of ,our)eois de ocrac#,3 isola!in) !he fac! !ha! )ender e1uali!# and 0o en's ri)h!s 0ere issues of !he la!e se(en!ies !ha! 0ere addressed in !his fil 79i!!in) 2F+6FF8. E(en

!he presence of 0o en as a su,s!an!ial par! of !his cre0 in and of i!self 0as a s!a!e en! of e1uali!# !o so e de)ree on !he fil 's par!. $n Ael!on's 0ords, 2Ao!h )enres Gscience fic!ion and horrorH ha(e ,een unders!ood as responses !o social and cul!ural an4ie!ies,3 suppor!in) !he idea !ha! !he an4ie!ies of !he socie!# con!e porar# 0i!h !he release of !he fil !oo- so e par! in i!s crea!ion and !he alon) 0i!h !heir apparen!

represen!a!ion or discussion of 0o en 0i!hin !he fil e1uali!# 0i!h 2F08. en in !he fil

cer!ainl# pro(ides an as!u!e e4a ple of !his 7Ael!on

A final issue !ha! de ands an i por!an! role in !his fil

is !he delinea!ion

Hudson 10 ,e!0een hu ani!# and science or ad(ance en! !ha! isola!es !he a ,i)uous fu!ure or !he achine as a !hrea! !o hu an (alues. /he an4ie!ies re)ardin) !he

e!hical na!ure of science as 0ell as !he direc!ion of ad(ance en! in re)ards !o indus!rial or co ercial 0orld and i!s o(e en! !o0ards a ore s!rea lined and

i personal s!#le of ,usiness pla# a s!ron) role in !his fil

as !he# are ,o!h

por!ra#ed in a ne)a!i(e li)h!. As 9i!!in) sa#s, 2!here is a secondar# !hrea! of in !he ,e!ra#al of !he achines E Ash, !he android science officer and Mo!her, !he ed !o ac! in !he unna ed "o pan#'s ,es!

co pu!er E 0ho are pro)ra

in!eres!s, e(en a! !he e4pense of !he cre03 79i!!in) 2F<8. /his 1uo!e succinc!l# su ari?es !he for !ha! !he un!rus!0or!h# science and achiner# in Alien

assu es. 9ur!her ore, i! re(eals !he 0a# !hese ,eha(e in a anner !ha! re(eals !he

achines are depic!ed and

!o ,e un!rus!0or!h# and, if no! e(il,

co ple!el# unconcerned 0i!h !he (alues hu ans consider i por!an! such as !he sanc!i!# of life and social ,onds. Ash's o0n re o!e and una!!ached a!!i!ude !o0ards his hu an co rades is accura!el# su ari?ed in his s!a!e en! in

response !o %iple#'s 1ues!ion re)ardin) his 2special order,3 2Arin) ,ac- life for G!he alienH. Priori!# 5ne. All o!her priori!ies rescinded3 7Alien8. $n !his 0a#, alon) 0i!h o!her e4a ples of callousness a on) !he achines 7such as 2Mo!her's3

apparen! indifference !o !he cre0's a!!e p!s !o disa,le !he self6des!ruc! co and8, !he fil es!a,lishes a essa)e of !he inhu ani!# of achines and

e(en science in )eneral. Ho0e(er !he idea of ad(ance en! and !he fu!ure is also lin-ed !o !he an!a)onis! of !he fil , !he alien 2o!her.3 @hen !he cre0 is in!erro)a!in) Ash af!er

Hudson 11 defea!in) hi ,u! ,efore des!ro#in) hi , Ash refers !o !he alien 0hen he sa#s, a!ched onl# ,# i!s hos!ili!#3 and

2Perfec! or)anis . $!s s!ruc!ural perfec!ion is

!hen )oes on !o sa# ad irin)l# !ha! i! is, 2unclouded ,# conscience, re orse, or delusions of orali!#3 7Alien8. /hese 1uo!es of Ash ad irin) and praisin) !he alien

for i!s efficienc# and disre)ard for hu an (alues ser(es !o fur!her pro(e Ash 7and ,# e4!ension science and Ash ,# co parin) !he achiner#8 !o ,e a ene # of hu ani!#, !ie !he alien !o !o so e de)ree in !his

and !here,# includin) hi

i plica!ion of e(il or opposi!ion !o hu ani!#, and finall# !o isola!e !he alien as !he pinnacle of ,iolo)ical ad(ance en!, !he 2perfec! or)anis .3 $n !his 0a#, !he alien is included in !his idea of science and ad(ance en! and !he alien's callous disre)ard for !he in!eres!s of !he hu ans perfec!l# s#nchroni?es 0i!h i!s role as an i a)e of !he horrors !he fu!ure !he a# hold for hu ani!# !ha! is alread# occupied ,# os!

achines of !he ship. /he !hrea! of science and ad(ance en! is

o,(iousl# rendered in !hese e4a ples, ,u! !he pro)ressin) co

ercial ele en! of

socie!# a! !his !i e is also an i por!an! aspec! of !he an4ie!# of !he fu!ure pursued in !his o(ie.

As Ne0!on sa#s on !he !opic of con!e4!ual issues 0i!h 0or- or professional life in Alien, 2/he fil e(o-es, in ra!her e4plici! fashion, !heir uneas# reco)ni!ion an or co pan# 0o an, so e,od#

!ha! no0 e(er#one is forced !o ,e a co pan#

0hose 0or- is nei!her con!rolled ,# nor unders!ood ,# !he , and so e,od# 0ho is finall# e4penda,le in !he na e of profi!3 7Ne0!on 2*38. :us! li-e !he fear of science and !he fu!ure in !er s of !he achines and !he alien, !he fear of !he an!i6

hu an or callous disre)ard for hu an (alues for !he sa-e of ,usiness or profi! is

Hudson 12 roo!ed in a )eneral fear of !he fu!ure and !he an4ie!# re)ardin) ho0 hu ani!#'s ad(ance en! affec!s i!s (alues. /he ise6en6scene of !he ship is also essen!ial !o

!he co pan#'s apparen! disre)ard for !he (alues of i!s e plo#ees and hu ani!# in )eneral. Despi!e !he fac! !ha! !he ship is said !o ,e haulin) !0en!# illion !ons of

ore and !he co para,le !ru!h !ha! !he ship is e4!re el# lar)e, !he cre0 1uar!ers and an# of !he hall0a#s in !he fil are o,(iousl# cra ped and al os! no aspec!

of !he in!erior of !he ship is aes!he!icall# pleasin). $n al os! e(er# are of !he ship seen in !he fil e4posed in a !here are so e -ind of pipes or pra) a!ic ele en!s of !he ship anner !ha! spea-s !o a lac- of concern for !he appeal of !he ship !o

hu an ideals and co for!. /he co pan#'s de and !ha! !he alien ,e cap!ured 0i!hou! re)ard !o !he cos!, !he fac! !ha! !here 0as an android a,oard !he ship 0i!hou! !he -no0led)e of !he cre0, and !he efficienc# of !he ship all poin! !o an e phasis on !he co pan#'s 7and co ise6en6scene on !he

ercial ,usiness ,#

e4!ension8 disin!eres! and disre)ard for hu an (alues or co for!. $n !hese e4a ples, !he presence of !he con!e porar# an4ie!# !o0ards !he fu!ure and !he 2ad(ance en!3 of !he hu an race is clear and !he fu!ure's role as an ene # or opposi!ion !o hu an (alues is isola!ed as an i por!an! issue 0i!hin !he fil . Alien is in an# 0a#s a response and discourse re)ardin) an#

con!e porar# issues a! !he !i e of i!s release includin) an ele en! of pos!6 i perialis! fear of !he 2o!her,3 confusion or an4ie!# re)ardin) )ender roles and !he chan)es !he# 0ere under)oin), and !he fear of !he pro)ress or fu!ure of science, hu ani!#, and !he ,usiness 0orld. @hile all of !hese fea!ures of !he fil are

presen!ed differen!l#, !he# all capi!ali?e on !he na!ure of !he horror and science

Hudson 13 fic!ion )enres !o rouse e o!ion and fear in !he audience especiall# in re)ards !o !his con!ro(ersial issues of socie!#. /hrou)h !he fil s represen!a!ion and por!ra#al of !hese fears in !he fil !he audience is a,le !o e4perience a ca!harsis or

displace en! of !heir fears and an4ie!ies, and !his is an ele en! of !he appeal !he fil pro(ides for !he audience. >l!i a!el#, !he fil no! onl# )enera!es fear in i!s

audience in response !o !he

enacin) alien's fri)h!enin) na!ure, ,u! also ,#

pla#in) on !he fears and an4ie!ies of socie!# in con!e4! 0i!h !he fil 's release, desi)na!in) Alien as an e4cellen! e4a ple of a !#pical, if a,o(e a(era)e 1uali!# and cri!icall# acclai ed, e4a ple of a horror or science fic!ion fil .

Hudson 14 @or-s "i!ed Alien. Dir. %idle# &co!!. Perf. &i)ourne# @ea(er. /0en!ie!h6"en!ur# 9o4, 1*+*. Ael!on, :ohn. IHorror and &cience 9ic!ion.I American Cinema/American Culture. McGra06Hill Hu ani!ies &ocial, 200*. 2+16*<. Prin!. 9i!!in), Pe!er. I/he &econd Alien.I Science Fiction Studies +.3 71*F08: 2F<6*3. Prin!. :anMoha ed, A,dul %. I/he Econo # of Manichean Alle)or#: /he 9unc!ion of %acial Difference in "olonialis! Ci!era!ure.I Critical Inquiry 12.1 71*F<8: <*6 ;F. Prin!. Ne0!on, :udi!h. I9e inis 71*F08: Prin!. and An4ie!# in IAlienII Science Fiction Studies +.3

2*36*+. Prin!. &aid, Ed0ard @. Orientalism. Ne0 Jor-: Pan!heon, 1*+F.