In
earlier films, space environments were seen as harsh conditions that
were in complete contrast to earth conditions. Zero-gravity environments
were depicted as exotic that adapted to rocky baron landscapes suggested
in the film sets. Through films such as: Aelita and First Men
in the Moon, abrasive materials arranged in constructivist style scenes
portray a harsh, cold and brutal environment.
In these movies
the materiality of space construction is illustrated in juxtaposition to a delicate
environment on Earth. In Aelita, domestic scenes, (with the use
of warmer materials), are in contrast with the brutalism of the stone-like materials
of Aelita’s palace on Mars. Similarly, in First Men in the Moon,
the Victorian cottage in the English landscape, with its wood interiors and plush
finishes completely contrasts the subterranean empire of Mars. Here the
kingdom of space is revealed as an empire built out of rock formations, and accessed
only through substantial doors or domes that lock out the outdoor conditions.
The
portrayed environments in these movies provide an outlook of man in relation
to a world zero-gravity. In each case, the film portrays the outer
spaces in a condition unsympathetic to humans. A notion that,
we as humans have been conditioned to environments that would disallow
us to adapt well to zero-gravity environments, is portrayed. Cold, hard
and brutal, these environments are not meant for human inhabitation,
and further express the delicacy of humans as a race. It is also
noted that conditions in space are quite unique from earth, especially
in First Men in the Moon, where the humans are confronted with strange
mechanisms and natural phenomenon composed of foreign and unusual substances.
The only material that would allow men to space travel, is a substance
that when painted onto matter, caused it to lose it's gravitational pull.
The
materials and space construction in the movie also denote the knowledge
of space the earlier years of the 20th Century. At this point space
travel was a curious subject and space environments were quite foreign
to the common man. This is definitely evident in the materiality
of the space suits in First Men in the Moon. The suits were
basically rubber swimming suits. The helmets, somewhat reflective
of modern space masks, had holes in them and in reality would not provide
proper protection from the atmosphere in space. Each
movie portrays space travel in a very loose way. The materials of the space
capsules were flimsy in both cases; poorly constructed, (in that they fall
apart landing on Mars). In any case, the movies depict a general understanding
of the harsh conditions of zero-gravity, but do not show a firm grasp on
the implications of space travel on humans. They only understand
general obstacles that men might face,( like defying gravity, when space
travelling. |
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