Heroes, Monsters and Values - Science Fiction Films of the 1970s - Philosophy and Film Values

Aug 25, 2026

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A scholarly exploration of how 1970s science fiction films function as new generic myths, using film analysis to surface ethical and metaphysical problems. The book frames philosophy and science fiction as parallel pursuits of truth, knowledge, wonder, and explanatory hypotheses, with special attention to recurring figures such as heroes and monsters and the values they disrupt. It situates these themes within the decade’s cinematic shifts, including the rise of blockbuster and “high concept” mentality.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages221

Reading Time5 h 40 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Science Fiction Films as New Generic Myths

Introduction

PART I: HEROES IN HISTORY

The Corporate Challenges to Recovery of the Individual and History in Rollerball (1975)

The Nature of the Female Hero in Alien

Performances of Spectacular and Stressed Embodiment in Star Trek, The Motion Picture

PART II: MONSTERS OF TECHNOLOGY

Colossus: The Forbin Project: The Evolution of a Monster

Zardoz and the Problem of Infinity: Heidegger and Levinas beyond Death and Love

The Tragic Life of Sol Roth: Why He Won't Just Eat Soylent Green and Shut Up

PART III: VALUES IN DISRUPTION

Who’s Your Daddy? Star Wars and the Ethics of Lying

Choosing Goodness: The Many Moralities of A Clockwork Orange

Winning Is the Only Standard of Excellence Left: Death Race 2000 and the Dissolution of the Virtues

Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Killer Apes and the Status of Nature

Religious Transcendence in Logan’s Run

The Man Who Fell To Earth: The Messiah and the Amphicatastrophe

Contributors

Subject Index

Heroes, Monsters and Values Heroes, Monsters and Values: Science Fiction Films of the 1970s Edited by Michael Berman and Rohit Dalvi Heroes, Monsters and Values: Science Fiction Films of the 1970s, Edited by Michael Berman and Rohit Dalvi This book first published 2011 Cambridge Scholars Publishing 12 Back Chapman Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2XX, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2011 by Michael Berman and Rohit Dalvi and contributors All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-4438-2692-8, ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-2692-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ....................................................................................................... vii Science Fiction Films as New Generic Myths Barry Keith Grant Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Michael Berman and Rohit Dalvi PART I: HEROES IN HISTORY Chapter One ............................................................................................... 19 The Corporate Challenges to Recovery of the Individual and History in Rollerball (1975) Michael Berman Chapter Two .............................................................................................. 29 The Nature of the Female Hero in Alien Jan Marijaq Chapter Three ............................................................................................ 41 Performances of Spectacular and Stressed Embodiment in Star Trek, The Motion Picture Maureen Connolly PART II: MONSTERS OF TECHNOLOGY Chapter Four .............................................................................................. 57 Colossus: The Forbin Project: The Evolution of a Monster Jennifer Welchman Chapter Five .............................................................................................. 73 Zardoz and the Problem of Infinity: Heidegger and Levinas beyond Death and Love Drew M. Dalton vi Table of Contents Chapter Six ................................................................................................ 89 The Tragic Life of Sol Roth: Why He Won't Just Eat Soylent Green and Shut Up Rohit Dalvi PART III: VALUES IN DISRUPTION Chapter Seven .......................................................................................... 109 Who’s Your Daddy? Star Wars and the Ethics ofLying John Richard Harris Chapter Eight ........................................................................................... 123 Choosing Goodness: The Many Moralities of A Clockwork Orange Stephen Brown Chapter Nine ............................................................................................ 139 Winning Is the Only Standard of Excellence Left: Death Race 2000 and the Dissolution of the Virtues Brian Lightbody Chapter Ten ............................................................................................. 151 Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Killer Apes and the Status of Nature Keith Sudds Chapter Eleven ........................................................................................ 169 Religious Transcendence in Logan’s Run Sam Flatbush Chapter Twelve ....................................................................................... 179 The Man Who Fell To Earth: The Messiah and the Amphicatastrophe Andrew M. Butler Contributors ............................................................................................. 197 Subject Index ........................................................................................... 201 PREFACE: SCIENCE FICTION FILMS

FAQs

How does the book connect philosophy with science fiction films?

It argues that philosophy and science fiction share a common drive to seek truth and answers, while science fiction’s extrapolative premises operate like philosophical hypotheses.

Why does it focus specifically on science fiction films of the 1970s?

It highlights the decade’s major industrial and tonal shifts, including the rise of blockbuster and high-concept mentality and related changes in cinematic style and reception.

What organizing themes structure the chapters in this collection?

The book is arranged into three parts: heroes in history, monsters of technology, and values in disruption, each addressing particular ethical or metaphysical concerns through film case studies.

Aug 25, 2026

Upload by Hazel