Abstract
This paper presents five articles and two websites that all help explain the context and themes of the 1956 film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (IBS) directed by Don Siegel, while also doing the same for the 1993 remake of the film "Body Snatchers" (BS) directed by Abel Ferrara. Each source gives different inputs on what helped influenced the film's creation, while also noting their time periods and social conditions of that time. Jenkins (2012) points to the domestic issues of post-World War II that IBS portrays, and argues that the film's genre is a Gothic representation of the social conditions of the US at that time. Meanwhile, Hendershot (1998) speaks on the paranoia of radiation contamination in a postwar America. When moving up almost forty years, Ebert (1994) talks about BS and its connection with military conformity and also the AIDS epidemic. Liss (2001) tells us how these films can teach us post-World War II history. Telotte (1983) touches more on the science and biology of the film, which connects with how we as a species want to abdicate from human "responsibility", as in becoming an automaton like the people become in the movie can actually be desirable. Wikipedia just gives us some more general information about the films.
- Body Snatchers (1993)
The main argument for this movie is within its portrayals of conformity and of what the government and military are like.
Syntagmatic
"...we spend half our lives asleep."
This quote gives the impression that the main character believes that everyone is "asleep" or that they can't see what is really going on in the society and world around them. It is parallel to the more modern saying of "being woke"
Chemist:"You got a lot of chemicals in this [military] base, they're all pretty toxic..."
Captain: "I'm not talking about physical [effects], I am talking about psychological."
These "chemicals" can very well be talking about the effects that joining the military have on the people who join. Joining compels them to conform.
Paradigmatic
In this scene, which starts before the 10 minute mark, it sets the tone pretty well and shows themes early on.
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| Here, the protagonist is surrounded by army guards, or surrounded by authority. |
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| But then another "cool" girl shows up in a Firebird knockoff and saves her. The movie gives her the image of being an anarchist or someone who doesn't conform to society. |
In another scene, we find a school teacher teaching children how to paint. The ironic part about this scene, is that painting is completely artistic and unique, but the teacher is telling them exactly what to paint ridding them of their uniqueness.
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| All of the children hold up the same painting |
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| Only one little boy held up a unique painting |
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| The boy felt isolated, different, and obviously confused as to why his didn't look like everybody else's |
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Some argue that this movie is a work of Gothic fiction, and there are a few factors that give this idea life within the movie.
Syntagmatic
In the Gothic novel, the atmosphere will be one of mystery, suspense, and fear, the mood of which is only enhanced by elements of the unknown or unexplained. (Thoughtco.com) All of these themes come into play in this movie, as no one understands what exactly is wrong with the people who seem different or the people who are experiencing hysteria.
Oftentimes Gothic fiction will contain elements of the supernatural or paranormal...In some instances, these supernatural features are later explained in perfectly natural terms, but in other works, they remain completely inexplicable. (Thoughtco.com) The only thing that the people of the town know about these impostors is that they come from plant-like pods in the ground. Keeping their origin inexplicable makes a strong lead towards being Gothic fiction.
Paradigmatic
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| Becky, the protagonist's love interest, is the only female in the movie who is not blonde. She has dark hair and eyebrows, and wears darker lipstick. This could be trying to portray her as a Gothic heroine, as black often refers to death or horror. |
References
Burgess, Adam, (2017, August 07) "An Introduction to Gothic Literature" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-gothic-literature-739030
Ebert, Roger, (1994-02-25). "Body Snatchers Review". Chicago Sun-Times.
Hendershot, Cyndy, (1998). "The Invaded Body: Paranoia & Radiation Anxiety in Invaders from Mars, It Came from Outer Space & Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Kent State University Press
Invasion of the Body Snatchers. (2017, September 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Jenkins, Jennifer L., (2012). "'Lovelier the Second Time Around': Divorce, Desire, and Gothic Domesticity in Invasion of the Body Snatchers."The Journal of Popular Culture Volume: 45 Issue 3
Liss, Neil. (2001). "'FILMS FOR OUR TIME: USING "INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS' TO TEACH RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY." Teaching History: A Journal of Methods Volume: 26 Issue 1
Telotte, J. (1983). Human Artifice and the Science Fiction Film. Film Quarterly, 36(3), 44-51. doi:10.2307/3697349
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