April 2000: The Third Expedition

The Alien is a science fiction horror movie. Its setting in space and the presence of technology and artificial intelligence empathizes on its science fiction genre. Moreover, the presence of the Alien and the fact that it is a threat to human lives reflects it is also a horror film. The movie revolves around seven human beings that have the mission to return to earth from the space.

     The following paper will analyze the movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey” by Stanley Kubrick” and “The Centinel” by Arthur C. Clarke. Although there are many themes present between the story and the film, the following are the most dominant. I will be discussing Scientific themes, Religious and Moral Themes, and Clarke’s development of the short story into a full-length film.

Before the 1800s and the Perry Mission (or expedition), which was led by Matthew Perry, many things happened.

Arthur C. Clarke, an award-winning author, in his novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, suggests that human evolution would not have been possible without the help of extra-terrestrial beings and the use of tools. Clarke is able to support his suggestions by narrating the influence the extraterrestrials have on humans and by describing the importance of the tools humans utilize. His purpose was to share his take on the final frontier in order to help readers make their own opinions and conclusions on evolution and deep space. Clarke utilizes a direct and scientific tone with his audience in a way to help them follow along, so that they don’t lose focus on the important themes throughout the novel.

The authors of “Zero Hour” and “The War of the Worlds” have their own unique ideas of an alien invasion if it ever were to happen. Both texts display the emotions characters must face throughout the invasion. These authors might have had their own style of writing for these stories, but they still the same impact. Both authors display alien invasions that will forever change mankind and the world as they know it.

Without the expedition of Lewis and Clark, the American history that people know would be completely different changing the accomplishments in history. The background and experience Lewis and Clark already developed prior to the expedition would be very beneficial and help make the journey easier. The development of the mission played a key part in the expedition itself because if the development did not play out exactly how Jefferson planned, then the expedition may not have been as successful. A big part of history, the expedition was very significant and impacted American society in ways that no one will ever be able to understand. Although the expedition of Lewis and Clark would be a very long journey, the United States would not have developed into such a prosperous country without the two men who traveled across the terrain in rain and snow in order to improve the United States.

On May 29, 1805, the night before the Corps entered the White Cliffs, a buffalo bull stampeded into the sleeping camp and rampaged around their fires, narrowly missing the heads of the sleeping explorers. After bending with its hooves, the buffalo was finally chased away by Seaman, Lewis’ dog. One of the men, Sergeant John Ordway, supposed in his own journal that “if he had trod on a man it would have killed him dead.”

Martian Chronicles is a book written by Ray Bradbury. A theme of the book is that people see or do things for a reason. The use of syntax, word choice, and imagery helps the reader to convey the theme. The syntax in Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles help readers understand the theme.

In Sarah Pearsall’s article, Pearsall follows the Sullivan Expedition and the meeting of an Iroquois woman named Madam Sacho. The Sullivan Expedition was a campaign again British and Indian forces. This expedition held raids that burned down British towns and Indian villages and destroyed crops. Sullivan and his men were greeted by Madam Sacho during the village raid of Haudenosaunee. Orders from General George Washington stated that Sullivan and his men were to capture hostages to ensure the country’s security, but for some reason they spared Madam Sacho. In fact, they provided food, shelter, and protection for her. According to history, Madam Sacho was referred to as a ghost, underrated by many, forgotten, and if it wasn’t for Sullivan and

On May 14, 1804, Lewis began the expedition with his partner, William Clark, “and their group of 40 men, collectively known as the Corps of Discovery.” They started their expedition at the mouth of the Missouri River, about 18 miles from St. Louis, where they “launched their pirogues and keelboat.” On the day of their launch, Clark wrote this in their journal: “I set out at 4 o’clock P.M. in the presence of many of the Neighbouring inhabitents, and proceeded on under a jentle brease up the Misourie to the upper Point of the 1st Island 4 Miles and Camped on the which is Situated Close on the right (or Starboard) Side, and opposite the mouth of a Small Creek called Cold water, a heavy rain this afternoon.”5 [Lewis, Meriwether, William Clark,

Latin America is known for the low education rates. This is unfortunate because high percentages of the countries in this situation are children under 25. For example Peru has an overall population of 45.88% of children under 25, Brazil has 39.74%, and Guatemala peaks at 57.56%. Without solid education, this population will continue to live in poverty. While planning a mission trip, it is important to note what a country is truly in need of. All of these countries are needy. They need better farming, clean water, and more stable communities. But that all stems from a need of knowledge. They are most in need of education.

Alien abduction stories have always held a strong interest among people all over the world, captivating our attention and curiosity as they propose yet another unsolved mystery of gigantic proportions and unthinkable consequences for humanity to contemplate. More so in modern times, and especially in the western world, where the media is a more significant part of culture, many science fiction novelists and screen writers brought out the issue to the public in the form of entertainment. This, due its widespread appeal, gave these stories a certain level of credulity among the masses, and sparked curiosity for closer investigation.

The science-fiction film genre serves as an excellent medium for examining shifting power structures, social paranoia and Cold War politics during the 1950s. A number of films released during this period, including: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Them (1954) and Attack of the 50ft Woman (1958), are particularly symptomatic of the social and political atmosphere of the time. These films navigate not only narrative based issues such as the threat of aliens and science experiments gone wrong; but also wider issues of the time, such as the Cold War, changes in the US film industry, urbanisation, politics, the growing power of women and most significantly, social concern about nuclear energy.

Throughout this semester our literary material dealt with themes of technology, modernization, the imponderable bloom, human nature, and truth to name a few of the most overarching. Each text has woven an impression of the possible near future for humanity if the patterns we are creating continue at an exponential rate. Patterns such as consumerism, neglecting unpleasurable emotions, using drugs, and controlling the environment for our short term benefits will write an unsavory and inevitable future. Science Fiction often reflects on society by exaggerating their negative characteristics and advancements to seem far-out, but often it is ironic how close many aspects of the fiction are a direct reflection of the present condition. Even now, the possibilities of utopias and dystopias forming are not so out of reach. The ability of our culture to control an entire population with a self-satisfied culture of vices outfitted with technology is less and less science fiction as the years pass.

The good thing about films is that we not only have the opportunity to choose from a wide selection of different genres, but also compare them and understand their purpose in the world. The Horror genre has used the basic principles throughout time, and as a result, films of this type have not proven to be as timeless as another genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy. At first, these two genres might at times seem similar as they have at several occasions been blended together, but their basic, common theme serves different meanings about humans. I shall compare and contrast these two genres and focus on both classic films and modern films. From the Horror genre perspective I shall discuss Psycho (1960) and The Mist (2007), while in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre I will examine 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), and Serenity (2005). Although the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre and the Horror Genre share some similarities, the differences lie in their focus on human progress.