Flying Saucers in Popular Culture
electromagnetic interference, nuclear weapons concerns, saucer
electromagnetic interference
nuclear weapons concerns, USO
After 1947, the flying saucer quickly became a stereotypical symbol of both extraterrestrials and science fiction, and features in many films of mid-20th century science fiction, including , , , as well as . As the flying saucer was surpassed by other designs and concepts, it fell out of favor with straight science-fiction moviemakers, but continued to be used ironically in comedy movies, especially in reference to the low-budget B movies which often featured saucer-shaped alien craft.
In some cases, saucers were portrayed as human-created craft in the future. Forbidden Planet (1956) a flying saucer called the United Planets Cruiser C-57D In the television series Lost in Space (1965-1968), the Robinson family had a disc-shaped spaceship.
Saucers appeared in the television series Babylon 5 (1994-1998) as the standard ship design used by a race called the Vree. Aliens in the film Independence Day (1996) attacked humanity in giant city-sized saucer-shaped spaceships.
The sleek, silver flying saucer in particular is seen as a symbol of 1950s culture; the motif is common in Googie architecture and in Atomic Age décor. [1] The image is often invoked retrofuturistically to produce a nostalgic feel in period works, especially in comic science fiction; both Mars Attacks! (1996) [2] and Destroy All Humans! [3] draw on the flying saucer as part of the larger satire of 1950s B movie tropes.
Flying Saucers in Popular Culture
electromagnetic interference, nuclear weapons concerns, saucer
electromagnetic interference
nuclear weapons concerns, USO
After 1947, the flying saucer quickly became a stereotypical symbol of both extraterrestrials and science fiction, and features in many films of mid-20th century science fiction, including , , , as well as . As the flying saucer was surpassed by other designs and concepts, it fell out of favor with straight science-fiction moviemakers, but continued to be used ironically in comedy movies, especially in reference to the low-budget B movies which often featured saucer-shaped alien craft.
In some cases, saucers were portrayed as human-created craft in the future. Forbidden Planet (1956) a flying saucer called the United Planets Cruiser C-57D In the television series Lost in Space (1965-1968), the Robinson family had a disc-shaped spaceship.
Saucers appeared in the television series Babylon 5 (1994-1998) as the standard ship design used by a race called the Vree. Aliens in the film Independence Day (1996) attacked humanity in giant city-sized saucer-shaped spaceships.
The sleek, silver flying saucer in particular is seen as a symbol of 1950s culture; the motif is common in Googie architecture and in Atomic Age décor. [1] The image is often invoked retrofuturistically to produce a nostalgic feel in period works, especially in comic science fiction; both Mars Attacks! (1996) [2] and Destroy All Humans! [3] draw on the flying saucer as part of the larger satire of 1950s B movie tropes.