Extraterrestrials in fiction: Difference between revisions

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	==Typical characteristics==		==Typical characteristics==
	In popular culture, such as movies and comics, "aliens" are often depicted as somewhat humanoid in their appearance (See ], ]). In fact it unlikely, if alien life exists at all, for a creature that evolved from otherworldly origins on a distant planet, to ressemble even vaguely the appearance of a human being, since most creatures on Earth today such as ], ] or ] look very different than a human being does and yet came from the same earthly origins. That would mean aliens from distant worlds, if they exist at all, would look even less like us than anything we've ever seem.		In popular culture, such as movies and comics, "aliens" are often depicted as somewhat humanoid in their appearance (See ], ]). In fact this is unlikely, if alien life exists at all, for a creature that evolved from otherworldly origins on a distant planet, to ressemble even vaguely the appearance of a human being, since most creatures on Earth today such as ], ] or ] look very different than a human being does and yet came from the same earthly origins. That would mean aliens from distant worlds, if they exist at all, would look even less like us than anything we've ever seem.

	There are several reasons for this humanoid depiction in popular culture. It makes it easier for an alien in a movie scene to simply be a disguised human actor. Aliens in movies, in order to catch our attention, must trigger instantaneous emotional reaction; this requires a design based on recognizable human facial features and expressions. It is easier to relate to an alien with features we recognize such as arms and legs, two eyes, a nose and a mouth, as well as behavior we recognize such as baring its teeth in anger or widening its eyes in shock or surprise.		There are several reasons for this humanoid depiction in popular culture. It makes it easier for an alien in a movie scene to simply be a disguised human actor. Aliens in movies, in order to catch our attention, must trigger instantaneous emotional reaction; this requires a design based on recognizable human facial features and expressions. It is easier to relate to an alien with features we recognize such as arms and legs, two eyes, a nose and a mouth, as well as behavior we recognize such as baring its teeth in anger or widening its eyes in shock or surprise.

Revision as of 21:33, 15 July 2005

In popular fiction and conspiracy theories, life forms, especially intelligent life forms, that are of extraterrestrial origin, i.e. not coming from the Earth are referred to as alien and collectively as aliens. Prime examples of how aliens are viewed are found in the movies Alien, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Signs, Independence Day, and War of the Worlds.

This usage is clearly anthropocentric: when humans in fictional accounts accomplish interstellar travel and land on a planet elsewhere in the universe, the local inhabitants of these other planets are usually still referred to as "alien," even though they are the native life form and the humans are the intruders. In general they are seen as unfriendly life forms. This may be seen as a reversion to the classic meaning of "alien" as referring to "other," in contrast to "us" in the context of the writer's frame of reference.

Typical characteristics

In popular culture, such as movies and comics, "aliens" are often depicted as somewhat humanoid in their appearance (See Greys, Little green men). In fact this is unlikely, if alien life exists at all, for a creature that evolved from otherworldly origins on a distant planet, to ressemble even vaguely the appearance of a human being, since most creatures on Earth today such as squid, palm trees or bacteria look very different than a human being does and yet came from the same earthly origins. That would mean aliens from distant worlds, if they exist at all, would look even less like us than anything we've ever seem.

There are several reasons for this humanoid depiction in popular culture. It makes it easier for an alien in a movie scene to simply be a disguised human actor. Aliens in movies, in order to catch our attention, must trigger instantaneous emotional reaction; this requires a design based on recognizable human facial features and expressions. It is easier to relate to an alien with features we recognize such as arms and legs, two eyes, a nose and a mouth, as well as behavior we recognize such as baring its teeth in anger or widening its eyes in shock or surprise.

Extraterrestial life in movies

Extraterrestial life in fiction

The existence of alien beings (intelligent extraterrestrial life) has been one of the enduring themes of science fiction.

One of the first fiction writers to use Alien beings from another planet was H. G. Wells. The War of the Worlds is the best known of his works; it also introduced the modern reader to the recurring concept of interplanetary invasion by malign aliens.

The alien invasion was one of two themes which was to crop up again and again in the 'pulp science fiction' years, the 1930s to 1960s. The Cold War made people particularly receptive to the idea of evil and incomprehensible beings coming to destroy or enslave earthly (usually American) life. Examples of these include the short story "The Liberation of Earth" by William Tenn.

The contrasting picture of aliens during this time was that of the wise and civlised race coming to Earth to impart their wisdom and solve our problems. These stories were almost as popular as the invasion theme, at a time when mankind looked as though it was in the brink of destroying itself. A good example of this story is the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Aliens are also used in fiction to examine the human race from a different perspective; the author wishes us to examine ourselves in a new way by contrasting us with an imagined alternative. This was one of the functions of Mr. Spock in Star Trek.

One of the most frequently portrayed alien races from our own solar system are the Martians, Mars being the most romanticized of the other planets whose surface conditions are closest to being amenable to life. See Mars in fiction for more details on the red planet's numerous roles.

Popular fictional tales of the first half of the 20th century also includes many fanciful tales of alien races and civilizations on our nearest neighbor, the Moon.

Many of the aliens have been hostile and alien invasion has been a very popular idea in English-language science fiction.

Writers have created a long list of extraterrestrial creatures and intelligent beings; see the list of aliens in fiction.

Silicon based life

There are examples of silicon-based life in science fiction, such as an episode of the original Star Trek series, which included a silicon life form called the Horta or the Chenjesu and Taalo in the science-fiction adventure game Star Control II. The Doctor Who story The Hand of Fear featured a silicon-based being, and indeed made great play of the exceptional rarity of silicon-based lifeforms.

External links

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