Many films use allegory to express themes such as politics and different emotions people are feeling at the time the film is made. Post 9/11 cinema is an example of this, these films depict the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their aftermath. Post 9/11 cinema is inspired by, reflects and comments upon the social values, attitudes and American response to the attacks. Another example of this is the effects of Communism, such as increased paranoia of War over ideology differences. Paranoia about communist infiltration infected many areas of society, including the media.
Paranoia is a key aspect in War of the Worlds, for example after the initial Martian attack Rachael asks, “Is it the terrorists?” This directly references the threat of Islamic terror, a key element of Post 9/11 society. The characters in War of the Worlds live in a world that experiences these attacks and Rachael asking this question indicates a heightened level of paranoia existing as a result. This link to post 9/11 society is clear and it represents the increased sense of fear and paranoia that was felt immediately after the attacks. Fear of follow up attacks was rife in the aftermath and this scene creates a strong link between the film and the feeling of paranoia felt by the audience.
Similarly in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, when Miles returns to Santa Mira, he is faced with the cases of Little Jimmy and Uncle Ira. For Little Jimmy, it is very clear that he is extremely fearful and he believes that there is something wrong with his mother. Whereas Uncle Ira’s niece points out that he is not who he was, showing heightened suspicion towards the people around them. The film uses this strong sense of paranoia to display allegory towards McCarthyism; the film is a criticism of McCarthy and his followers. McCarthy feared the subversion of American people, the undermining of moral integrity and as he became more powerful it became very dangerous to question him as it could lead to being labelled as an “Other”, therefore people became paranoid and suspicious.
Rachael's response is also representing fear toward others, which is shown further when we are introduced to Ogilvy’s character in War of the Worlds. He believes in the terrorist theory that is being spread throughout the film, and also states "If the Japanese can do it, why can't we?" Then he tells Ray that he should join Ogilvy in setting up a resistance-movement. His instant reaction to this fear is to fight back, which is how many people would have felt in this position. People wanted war against the terrorists in order to have revenge, just as Ogilvy wants. This is also shown when Robbie makes a humorous comment about the invaders being European, this shows that there is an obvious assumption that the attack is human and has been detonated by an outsider. After the 9/11 attacks people became very suspicious towards people outside of the US, and racism increased, labeling all other cultures as ‘alien’. The use of aliens in War of the Worlds is allegorical of the way we see terrorists in society. Commonly, people from other countries are being referred to as ‘alien’; this is linked to the fact that terrorists have invaded their country, for example 9/11. The use of aliens indicates the annihilation of society, and the end of the world, which taps into people's existing fear of War and terrorism.
In Invasion of the Body Snatchers, fear of others is shown through the levels of paranoia increasing as the PODs are introduced. When the suspicion begins in the film, the characters begin to lose trust in each other. The PODs do not associate with the normal people, only to try and convert them. This is allegorical of McCarthyism and how its followers would treat anyone who was against McCarthy as ‘other’ and how he gained such a large following by using people’s paranoia against him. Most people conformed to McCarthyism against their will due to this fear of being labelled as ‘other’.
The repeated references to terrorism throughout the film represent how the characters fear extermination; the aliens pose a large threat that is very similar to that of a terrorist attacker, only on a larger scale. During 9/11, many people thought that the attack was going to continue, making them paranoid that their society was to be exterminated by terrorists. This is reflected in the reaction of the characters in the film towards the attack.
With the constant threat of Nuclear Annihilation forming a backdrop to American life, people in all levels of American society grew increasingly paranoid; a direct result of the increased sense of fear, political tensions and uncertainties about their future. Invasion of the Body Snatchers expresses these fears through the use of their enemy, which is allegorical of the USSR who was the main threat during the rise of McCarthyism.
Both films are very important to society due to their ideological allegory and they both display themes of allegory relating to people, or outsiders, being different or ‘alien’. They both use the theme of aliens to express their thoughts on the opposing ideologies, whether it is communism or terrorism. They both have a clear threat that they are battling, but the threat means something to the audience, especially that in the US who have lived through 9/11 and have had conflict with Communists and the USSR.
Paranoia is a key aspect in War of the Worlds, for example after the initial Martian attack Rachael asks, “Is it the terrorists?” This directly references the threat of Islamic terror, a key element of Post 9/11 society. The characters in War of the Worlds live in a world that experiences these attacks and Rachael asking this question indicates a heightened level of paranoia existing as a result. This link to post 9/11 society is clear and it represents the increased sense of fear and paranoia that was felt immediately after the attacks. Fear of follow up attacks was rife in the aftermath and this scene creates a strong link between the film and the feeling of paranoia felt by the audience.
Similarly in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, when Miles returns to Santa Mira, he is faced with the cases of Little Jimmy and Uncle Ira. For Little Jimmy, it is very clear that he is extremely fearful and he believes that there is something wrong with his mother. Whereas Uncle Ira’s niece points out that he is not who he was, showing heightened suspicion towards the people around them. The film uses this strong sense of paranoia to display allegory towards McCarthyism; the film is a criticism of McCarthy and his followers. McCarthy feared the subversion of American people, the undermining of moral integrity and as he became more powerful it became very dangerous to question him as it could lead to being labelled as an “Other”, therefore people became paranoid and suspicious.
Rachael's response is also representing fear toward others, which is shown further when we are introduced to Ogilvy’s character in War of the Worlds. He believes in the terrorist theory that is being spread throughout the film, and also states "If the Japanese can do it, why can't we?" Then he tells Ray that he should join Ogilvy in setting up a resistance-movement. His instant reaction to this fear is to fight back, which is how many people would have felt in this position. People wanted war against the terrorists in order to have revenge, just as Ogilvy wants. This is also shown when Robbie makes a humorous comment about the invaders being European, this shows that there is an obvious assumption that the attack is human and has been detonated by an outsider. After the 9/11 attacks people became very suspicious towards people outside of the US, and racism increased, labeling all other cultures as ‘alien’. The use of aliens in War of the Worlds is allegorical of the way we see terrorists in society. Commonly, people from other countries are being referred to as ‘alien’; this is linked to the fact that terrorists have invaded their country, for example 9/11. The use of aliens indicates the annihilation of society, and the end of the world, which taps into people's existing fear of War and terrorism.
In Invasion of the Body Snatchers, fear of others is shown through the levels of paranoia increasing as the PODs are introduced. When the suspicion begins in the film, the characters begin to lose trust in each other. The PODs do not associate with the normal people, only to try and convert them. This is allegorical of McCarthyism and how its followers would treat anyone who was against McCarthy as ‘other’ and how he gained such a large following by using people’s paranoia against him. Most people conformed to McCarthyism against their will due to this fear of being labelled as ‘other’.
The repeated references to terrorism throughout the film represent how the characters fear extermination; the aliens pose a large threat that is very similar to that of a terrorist attacker, only on a larger scale. During 9/11, many people thought that the attack was going to continue, making them paranoid that their society was to be exterminated by terrorists. This is reflected in the reaction of the characters in the film towards the attack.
With the constant threat of Nuclear Annihilation forming a backdrop to American life, people in all levels of American society grew increasingly paranoid; a direct result of the increased sense of fear, political tensions and uncertainties about their future. Invasion of the Body Snatchers expresses these fears through the use of their enemy, which is allegorical of the USSR who was the main threat during the rise of McCarthyism.
Both films are very important to society due to their ideological allegory and they both display themes of allegory relating to people, or outsiders, being different or ‘alien’. They both use the theme of aliens to express their thoughts on the opposing ideologies, whether it is communism or terrorism. They both have a clear threat that they are battling, but the threat means something to the audience, especially that in the US who have lived through 9/11 and have had conflict with Communists and the USSR.
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