Invasion of the Body Snatchers has been alleged around the worldwide hysteria revolved around the Communist Movement, but other evidence has led me to believe otherwise. Worldwide hysteria has always been present no matter what era. The most common mass hysteria has been over science, terrorism, or politics. The fact that this film has been remade numerous times proves that it is not just about one specific movement. Which furthermore proves that it was not a film about Communism but just a sci-fi horror film about worldwide mass hysteria meant to scare the viewers.
Many critics have many different responses to this film. Some believe it is showing the mass hysteria over Communism or McCarthyism, while others simply believe it is showing the struggle with worldwide conformity as a whole. In a review by Tim Dirks he made several good points proving that the accusations about this movie being filmed around the ideas of Communist hysteria was too vague and was open to too many different interpretations. For example, Dirks says that, “the theme of the cautionary, politicize film was open to varying interpretations, including paranoia toward spread of harmful ideology such as socialistic Communism, or the sweeping mass hysteria of McCarthyism and the blacklisting of Hollywood, the spread of a unknown malignancy or virulent germ, or the numbing of our individuality and emotional psyches through conformity and group-think.” Also, this further proves how the film has been remade four different times each estimated about 20 years apart. The first Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 1956 was “an allegory for Communism and McCarthyism.” The second, also called Invasion of the Body Snatchers, created in 1978 was “an allegory for the psychological revolution of the 1970’s and self-help books.” A few years later in 1993 Body Snatchers was created which “resembles a foreign, terrorist siege.” Finally, the most recent one created this year called, The Invasion in which “the a flu-like virus brought to Earth by a crashed space shuttle, turning victims into cold, emotionless, people after they sleep.” All of these remade movies are prime examples that the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers was just a sci-fi film about the world around them. Of course the people living in 1956 are going to relate it to Communism or McCarthyism because that was the worldwide hysteria they were experiencing. If that movie had never been made until the year of 2001 when 9/11 happened that would be our first interpretation also. It would be the worldwide hysteria of terrorism we went through. I do not believe that Don Siegel directed that film intending for it to be specifically about Communism. He made a great sci-fi horror film and left it opened for his audience to interpret the way they wanted. Telling someone who firmly believes it was not made specifically about Communism is not going to change his or her mind. That’s what makes it such a great sci-fi. When I think of a sci-fi film I think of a movie that you experience the way you have relations to it. For instance, being born in the 80’s is going to cause me to react dramatically different to a 50’s movie than someone who lived during that time period.
I would describe this film as a good horror film because not many horrors can keep me on the edge of my seat but Invasion of the Body Snatchers had me at the edge of mine. Although, it was very different from most horrors I was use to, I would recommend it because it was unexpected horror.
WORK CITED.
(Dirks) 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' 1956
(Siegel) Invasion of the Body Snatchers
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4 comments:
Good ideas and points but the structure and clarity of your points could use some work. You asked questions and anwsered them. you also used good sources so the reader knows the information is reliable. your grammar was correct.i suggests making an outline before you right so your ideas are not spread out everywhere.again you have a good paper with the right ideas and grammar, it just needs some work on the structure and clarity.
Ashley,
You make a great thesis in the first paragraph of your paper and continue to support it throughout your essay. However, there are some suggestions I would like to make. Some ideas are a little unclear. The sentences seem to run on a little and it makes the point you are trying to make somewhat vague. Also, you need to work on the lead-ins and ending of your quotations. Despite the problems, your essay is very good and just needs a little fixing up.
Courtney Hamilton
There are a lot of good ideas in this paper, but they need to be better organized. The first thing I would do would be to split up the middle part of the body of the paper into more paragraphs. Also make sure your paragraphs transition well and help the paper flow well.
The grammar is fairly good but some of your wording would make the paper more effective if it was changed up a little bit. For example, in the last paragraph you use the term "horrors." Horror films or horror movies would probably be better.
Your thesis is well-supported throughout your paper, but it needs to be changed into a complete sentence. Also, I would elaborate a little more in your conclusion which discusses your thoughts about the film.
Other than that, you make good points about the film and reference the different versions of the film as support. This paper just needs more organization, a few wording changes, and an improved conclusion to make it a very effective essay.
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