Relationship between a media genre and society

On one level, at least, Dystopian films have a direct relationship with society. By their very definition, Dystopian films present a negative representation of a future or alternate society. They are often mis-labelled as science fiction films because of their futuristic setting but although there are obvious similarities, their overriding aesthetic is more closely aligned to another genre: film-noir. Stylisically, many Dystopian films hark back to the darkest times in Western Society’s recent past; indirectly alluding to the struggles of the depression, the oppression of totalitarian governments and the horrors of World War Two, reinvented into a fictionalized, dark future. This style has been coined 'tech noir', using the tropes of film noir to evoke a sense of a corrupt society, and thus facilitating an appropriately negative mood. In fact, Dystopian films like Brazil, 1984, Bladerunner, and Gattaca directly tap into noir conventions such as chiaroscuro lighting, fedora hats and trenchcoats to assist in creating this mood.

Wikipedia’s definition of ‘dystopia’ clearly illustrates this connection: A dystopia is any society considered to be undesirable… and is most usually used to refer to a fictional (often near-future) society where current social trends are taken to nightmarish extremes. It is the second part of this definition that is particularly relevant to this essay – Dystopian films are inextricably connected to the society in which they are created, by extrapolating a ‘nightmarish’ future from issues, concerns or values that exist in the public consciousness of that particular society.

The central premise of these films is of a world gone mad, sometimes through the greed, ignorance or stupidity of man, sometimes though external influences. These dystopian worlds may be shaped by social, technological, medical, environmental, political or economic forces. Within this environment, there is (usually) an individual who realises the flaw and tries to challenge or rectify it. Depending on the film maker and the viewing ‘market’, it will either end happily, with the protagonist victorious; or not. Wikipedia’s definition concludes that, “A dystopia is all too closely connected to current-day society."

Three Dystopian films, created in different societies at different times, all display the connection between society and genre, albeit in very different ways. These films are Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1926), Andrew Nichol’s Gattaca (1997) and Alfonzo Cuaron’s Children of Men (2006).

Metropolis is widely regarded as the first science fiction film, although it also can be seen as the blueprint for Dystopian films. Inspired by the skyline of 1920s Manhattan, Lang created a throbbing, dystopian uber-city of the year 2000, where a decadent aristocracy thrives on the sweat of laboring hoards underground. Filtered through both German Expressionism and Christian symbolism, this dark fairy tale pits man against machine, and the head against the heart. Metropolis can be easily read as a criticism of capitalism and the social and economic divisions in post-WW1 Germany. Its resolution suggests a socialist solution, built on mutual respect and closer liaison between the ‘head’ (the intellectual and economic power) and the ‘hands’ (the physical requirement of the workforce). An economically depressed post World War One German society, including an ambitious politician, Adolf Hitler, certainly identified this story with their own lives.

Ironically, Jewish Lang’s criticism of the hierarchical nature of German society and how the downtrodden masses in the city of Metropolis turn quickly to violence is a prophetic vision of the rise of fascism. Concentration camp survivor Georges Sadoul makes perhaps one of the most potent 20th century interpretations of Metropolis and its relationship to society. He told the story of a man arriving at the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1943. "As he ascends the ramp, seeing all these men and women in uniform and shaven heads, he is heard saying to his fellow prisoner: 'Do you know Metropolis?'”

The ideas behind Metropolis were drawn form contemporary German society, although it was Lang’s visit to New York in 1924 that inspired his city of the future. He described this first real metropolis as, “a street as if in full daylight lit by neon lights and topping them, oversized, luminous advertisements, moving, turning, flashing on and off, spiraling...the buildings seemed to be a vertical veil, shimmering almost weightless, a luxurious cloth hung from the dark sky to dazzle, distract and hypnotize.” From this impression, Lang and his designers shaped their futuristic city by blending of all the latest artistic trends, of which Germany was at the forefront: Art Deco, Dadaism, Surrealism, Bauhaus and Expressionism. This combining of the Modernist schools in Metropolis was described by Lang as an "alphabet soup of the avant-garde.” Here we see society’s influence on this work.

Another important cinematic technological advancement was the revolutionary special effects of Eugen Schüfftan, who created innovative visual displays widely acclaimed in following years. Among the effects used are miniatures of the city, a camera on a swing, and most notably, the so-called Schüfftan process, the use of models and mirrors to create the illusion of varying scale, later also used by Alfred Hitchcock and even Peter Jackson in his Lord of the Rings trilogy. The scene where Rotwang creates the robot Hel in Maria’s likeness still amazes as a masterpiece of special effects, as well as commenting on the potentially negative effects of technology when placed in the wrong hands.

Mid to early 20^th century Dystopian fiction/films were largely concerned with totalitarian governments, faceless bureaucracy, surveillance and control issues. They were a reflection of the political turmoil of the middle of the century, where World War Two, the advent of the Cold War and other global conflicts threatened the democratic way of life. Films such as Invasion of the Bodysnatchers, On the Beach and Forbidden Planet all referenced the growing conflict between the Soviet Union and the USA, and the threat of ‘alien’ invasion and nuclear holocaust.

New Zaland director Andrew Nicols’ Gattaca is set in a near-future America where, non-enhanced babies are born only to the poor and the sexually reckless. Those who can possibly afford it consult with a genetic technician before initiating a pregnancy, and select their future child's traits for optimum success: sex, life expectancy, intelligence, appearance. Children with high-calibre pre-selected genes are classified at birth as "Valids." They are the ruling elite, eligible for top careers and entitled to high social status. "In-Valids" labor at menial jobs with no way up or out. Clearly, the ideas of genetic selection has direct links to the ‘unlocking’ of the DNA Genome (Gattaca itself is named after the letters used in describing DNA) and the explosion of gene science and experimentation that was taking place in the late ‘90’s. Gattaca acts as a warning to contemporary western society about this fast-advancing sphere of science, and where it could all lead. The film celebrates the tenacity and guile of Vincent, an In-Valid, with a serious heart defect who defeats his genetically superior brother and the ‘system’ through determination and belief. Gattaca is a celebration of the triumph of human spirit over a pre-ordained existence. Like many other mainstream dystopian films [and indeed numerous Hollywood films from across different genres] , Gattaca’s narrative construct follows an individual’s struggle and victory against ‘the sytem,’ offering hope over defeat for its audience.