Hi all,
I'm really interested in artificial intelligence and the way that we perceive it to be a good, that is shrouded in anxieties. I have not actually seen this movie, but I've heard some great things about it: The Iron Giant. (Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obLtyj8hfFk) Again, I can't really say much on it since I haven't seen it...but if you all have other suggestions for AI subject matter, please share!
Near the end Scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4dT2eBWI2M&list=PLB5E5E612E5A69CC0&feature=iv&src_vid=ydMwnnhLnLU&annotation_id=annotation_32877
Also, another point of interest is that many superheroes (and villains) are also products of scientific accidents or innovations - Spiderman, the Hulk, Poison Ivy, Iron Man - etc. How do we understand this duality of good and bad in regards to science being projected onto a singular figure?
This is a great suggestion, Helen. I haven't seen this film in over a decade, but you inspired me to dig out my notes from the anthropology of science fiction class I helped teach when I was a graduate student at Harvard.
ReplyDeleteThe film unfortunately isn't available at Olin but our library has the original edition of the 1968 story by Ted Hughes (call #PR6058 U37 I7 1968) if anyone wants to take a look.
*****
Film Notes on "The Iron Giant":
The Iron Giant is based upon the 1968 story, “Iron Man,” by the British poet laureate Ted Hughes. A giant metal machine (allegedly, a fighting machine) drops from the sky and frightens a small town in Maine in 1958. The giant finds a friend in the young Hogarth Hughes, the son of a divorced local waitress. This 1999 film carries many positive messages and none-too-subtle political commentary, without being too heavy-handed. Having received both critical and public acclaim for its prowess in handling technical details, and many levels of artistic expression, The Iron Giant has earned a place among the classics of animated film.
In terms of its main characters, we have:
- Hogarth (the voice of Eli Marienthal), the young open-minded boy who wants to befriend the giant.
- Kent (the voice of Christopher MacDonald), the patriotic, paranoid secret agent who wants to destroy the giant.
- Dean (the voice of Harry Connick Jr.), the peace-loving, junkyard dwelling, beatnik artist who wants to understand and protect the giant.
- The Iron Giant (voice of Vin Diesel)
Some questions to think about when watching the film:
In what way(s) does the film comment on the institution of the family?
Consider the function of the Giant as robot and his position vis a vis the film’s human characters. Could this be a story akin to King Kong? E.T. (a la Steven Spielberg)? Why is it (or is it not) important that the Giant be a robot?
The giant uses reason and language in very human ways. Particularly stunning is the way in which he picks up grammar rapidly and at opportune moments. What is the function of this anthropomorphizing tendency in the film? Is it, in fact, reasonable/desirable to expect the Iron Giant to be able to do this?
Finally, consider the portrayal of this small town and the ways in which the military and world forces come to bear on it. What does it say about 1950’s America and/or the filmmakers portrayal of this time period? What is the film trying to say?