Alien = Context

Question 1

What is New Hollywood?

Answer 1

• New Hollywood is a film movement that took place from 1967-1976. This movement was led by a group of film students with a passion for filmmaking and wanted to challenged the stagnant classical Hollywood

Question 2

Who are some famous directors who led New Hollywood?

Answer 2

1. George Lucas
2. Steven Spielberg
3. Martin Scorsese

Question 3

What is Phase 2 of New Hollywood?

Answer 3

• The film industry changed in the late 1970’s, people such as Spielberg and George Lucas direct films which are categorised as the blockbuster
• (Jaws) = Pioneered the idea of the blockbuster to build tension and hype into the marketing to entice people to watch which resulted in millions of profit
• (Star wars) = So popular it had the ability to create merchandise

Question 4

How does the success of Star Wars relate to Alien?

Answer 4

• Able to join the successful wave of Star Wars which primarily introduced films in space
• Alien battled between the blockbuster status of financial success, critical acclaim and mass appeal whilst also placing Scott’s auterial style and creative license

Question 5

What happened in the US v Paramount Pictures (1948)?

Answer 5

• It broke up monopolies which allowed studios to control the entire process which harmed consumers and independent theatre owners
• It required studios to sell off their theatre chains meaning studios could not control production and exhibition
• This resulted in the end of the studio system which meant they could not control the same level of production, distribution and exhibition
• It shifted to the New Hollywood Era where there is a new form of filmmaking which led to young filmmakers having greater freedom
• This meant they could not guarantee the exhibition

Question 6

What did the removal of exhibition mean?

Answer 6

• Studios were forced to sell their theatre chains meaning they could not control every aspect of the vertical integration
• This led to more diverse and independent productions where they were no longer restricted

Question 7

What other factors led to the decline of Classical Hollywood?

Answer 7

1. US v Paramount Pictures (1948)
2. Rise of Television which lead to a decline in box office revenue therefore needing to produce ‘blockbusters’ to attract audiences
3. Change in audience taste due to societal and cultural changes which meant audiences wanted more realistic, darker and complex themes
4. Independent filmmakers began creating films that were more raw, experimental and reflective of contemporary issues
5. Talent was no longer bound to studio contracts
6. French New Wave which brough fresh approaches to film which meant there was competition
7. Movements which meant filmmakers wanted to reflect the social realities of the time which were more socially relevant

Question 8

What happened to the Hays Code?

Answer 8

• The Hays Code was abolished which was then replaced by the certification system of certain ages
• It became harder to enforce due to changing norms as audiences wanted more realistic and provocative content
• TV pushed boundaries of more mature content meaning they had to adapt to new tastes
• The film rating system allowed greater freedom to categorise films without imposing strict moral standards
• This meant the exploration of more complex themes such as corruption and more gritter depictions of sex and violence

Question 9

Who is Dan O’Bannon?

Answer 9

• He wrote the original screenplay of Alien which consisted of a dark and claustrophobic atmosphere
• He worked with H R Giger to design the nightmarish and sexualised xenomorph which is known for brutal life cycle

Question 10

Who is HR Giger?

Answer 10

• Giger is known for his work of grotesque, erotic imagery which creates an otherworldly aesthetic
• His work is described as blending human figures with machinery in a sexualised unsettling manner
• He also designed various designs within Alien which reflected the dark atmosphere and unsettling feeling which made Alien stand out
• Giger used sexual imagery to explore the ambiguous relationship between life and death, creation and destruction. Such as the violent reproductive cycle which leads to death which shows that they are often inseparable and can lead to violence
• Removes the beautiful depiction of birth instead as mechanical and violent which connects to the themes of predation and parasites
• Reflects a distortion of normative sexual and bodily imagery
• The fusion of sexual imagery mixed with horror creates an intense psychological reaction to expose the tension between sexuality and violence
• It challenges norms to explore the unseen and what is seen as socially norm

Question 11

What is the context of gender?

Answer 11

• Alien can be seen as subverting the typical male gaze in Hollywood films (Vertigo), Ripley is not sexualised but marked by strength and intelligence which challenges traditional gender roles
• The sexualised nature of the aliens reproduction can be seen as a critique of traditional gender roles as is violent, invasive and phallic
• Ash’s betrayal reveals the corporate-driven and patriarchal systems
• Alien plays into sexual violence and bodily violation shown in it’s rape-like reproduction which is seen as a malevolent force of sexualised violence.
• Reflects social fear of sexual exploitation and loss of agency

Question 12

What is the context of technology?

Answer 12

• Nostromo is seen as little human warmth as a necessity and prison. This is seen to be cold and impersonal which represents the loss of humanity
• It reflects the fear of a future dominated by machines
• Corporate greed is tied to technology as it is a tool of exploitation used for dehumanizing purposes
• Ash acts with coldness and immorality which shows how technology can be used as a tool of manipulation and control
• AI shows the lack of empathy, she is programmed to serve the corporate interests above the well-being of the crew. This fuels the fear of technology as it betrays humanity’s trust
• The reliance on Mother leaves the crew powerless with no account for human life
• The alien’s design is biomechanical which represents the nature and technology can merge in unpredictable ways
• It reflects how the technological advancement could subjugate humanity using it as a vessel
• Technology isolates and alienates them

Question 13

What is the criteria of being an auteur according to

Answer 13

1. Technical Competence
2. Personal Style
3. Interior Meaning