A Structural Study of American Popular Science Fiction Films -the Mythology Approach

• Main Authors: Shih Hsu Tung, 時序東
• Other Authors: Wang Song Yin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1994
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/30240441204910767054

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 美國研究所 === 82 === Film has been invented for near one hundred years. As the developments in forms and contents, its meaning becomes more and more complex and worth researching. American films especially, Science Fiction films as the representative genre, have great effects on not only the American society but also the mess culture of the whole world. They are now an important representation of the modern thoughts. In the history of the movie research, Structuralism is the opening theory. Its Mythology approach can penetrate to the profound structure of stories, therefore find the mental structure of human race. The research then applies the Mythology approach as the basic method to analysis the plots of 12 popular American Science Fiction films. A common structural formula can still be found, however, the profound structure of the plots is not the same as the structure of the real society. The leading conclusion is that Science Fiction films, as a medium, express the conservative and traditional viewpoint, affirm the value of being a human, and comfort the public minds. This indicates that individualism is the base of American mental structure.