IOTBS opening

It is often said that films reflect the times they where made how true is it for invasion of the body snatchers- IOTBS

Invasion of the body snatchers is set in 1950’s America, a time that was notorious for having people that where incredibly paranoid and due to this feared annihilation or affiliation.

Many feared annihilation due to the red scare and the almost guarantee of nuclear fallout and wipe out of whole nations it promised, this was a very real threat with almost everyone (including children) participating in “duck and cover” exercises in the hopes to survive the very likely event of being ‘nuked’ so to speak. Others feared that affiliation will occur with many people who where seen as ‘outsiders’ (also called ‘others’) fitting it to the crowds and being unidentifiable. These ‘others’ consisted of anyone outside of the status quote such as black, gays or other minorities such as ethnic ones.

Due to fear of annihilation from a communist invasion and fear of affiliation being so prevalent xenophobia increased in a tremendous amount, due to this McCarthyism was able to form as he tapped into all of these fears and sense of paranoia and united the fearful majority into a solider-like state against a common enemy- anyone outside of the status quote.     

            This is obvious throughout the opening scene of IOTBS as it begins with the protagonist in a state of chaos and worry although we do not know we as we are placed in the middle of the problem rather than letting the events unfold, due to this as an audience member straight away you know something is wrong. It is also identifiable that his problems he faces are purely psychological/non-physical, like those felt in the 1950s society with no noticeable physical differences found amongst the communists or ‘others’ as people knew that stereotypes where no longer capable of identifying these people within society.

            The story then flashes back to Santa Mira- a typically small rural town in America- the town is portrait to be very commutative in nature with everyone knowing and being friendly to one another, making the events that follow more unexpected for the audience. Santa Mira (the actual location) is created via the director this gives the impression that the events occurring here can occur in any small town (most of which make up America) so it is likely that many of the viewers lived in one of these, making the fear more realistic. This also shows that the topics covered throughout this are national and not just set in a small location.

·      I personally have struggled with this as a case study but I think I have made progress to this point although clearly more work is needed.