The Galaxy Is Rated G : Essays on Children's Science Fiction Film and Television

Through spaceships, aliens, ray guns and other familiar trappings, science fiction uses the future (and sometimes the past) to comment on current social, cultural and political ideologies; the same is true of science fiction in children's film and television. This collection of essays analyzes the confluences of science fiction and children's visual media, handling such cultural icons as Flash Gordon, the Jetsons and Star Wars, as well as more contemporary fare like the films Wall-E, Monsters vs. Aliens and Toy Story. Collectively, the essays discover, applaud and critique the hidden--and not-so-hidden--messages presented on our children's film and TV screens. These Essays Analyze The Confluences Of Science Fiction And Children's Visual Media, Handling Such Cultural Icons As Flash Gordon, The Jetsons And Star Wars, As Well As Contemporary Fare Like The Films Wall-e, Monsters Vs. Aliens And Toy Story. Collectively, The Essays Discover, Applaud And Critique The Hidden Messages Presented On Film And Tv Screens--provided By Publisher. Introduction. Horizons Of Possibility: What We Point To When We Say Science Fiction For Children / Sandy Rankin And R.c. Neighbors -- Deviance And Beyond. Monsters Among Us: Construction Of The Deviant Body In Monsters, Inc. And Lilo & Stitch / Elizabeth Leigh Scherman -- Susan Murphy, Ginormica, And Gloria Steinem: Feminist Consciousness-raising As Science Fiction In Monsters Vs. Aliens / Holly Hassel -- Performing Gender, Performing Romance: Pixar's Wall-e / Carol A. Bernard -- Last In Space: The Black Hole In Children's Science Fiction Film / Debbie C. Olson -- A Few Beasts Hissed: Buzz Lightyear And The Refusal To Believe / Daniel Kennefick -- Structures Of Power And Beyond. Forward To The Past: Anti-fascist Allegory And Blitz Spirit Revisionism In Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.d. / Daniel O'brien -- The Search For A More Civilized Age, Or The Failure Of Utopian Desire In The Star Wars Franchise / R.c. Neighbors -- Inexplicable Utterances: Social Power And Pluralistic Discourse In Transformers / Jacqueline Wiegard -- Population: Us: Nostalgia For A Future That Never Was (not Yet) In The Iron Giant / Sandy Rankin -- Doctor Who: A Very British Alien / J.p.c. Brown -- Future Shock And Beyond. No Future Shock Here: The Jetsons, Happy Tech, And The Patriarchy / Brian Cowlishaw -- No One's Lazy In Lazytown: The Making Of Active Citizens In Preschool Television / -- Lynn Whitaker -- Flash Gordon: Remembering A Childhood Hero / Patrick D. Enright -- -- Toys, A T-rex, And Trouble: Cautionary Tales Of Time Travel In Children's Film -- Kristine Larsen -- Manmade Mess: The Critical Dystopia Of Wall-e / Alexander Charles Oliver Hall -- A Bumbling Bag Of Ball Bearings: Lost In Space And The Space Race / Jonathan Cohn. Edited By R.c. Neighbors And Sandy Rankin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Table of Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 1. Monsters Among Us......Page 24 2. Susan Murphy, Ginormica, and Gloria Steinem......Page 40 3. Performing Gender, Performing Romance......Page 62 4. Last in Space......Page 73 5. A Few Beasts Hissed......Page 92 6. Forward to the Past......Page 106 7. The Search for a “More Civilized Age,” or the Failure of Utopian Desire in the Star Wars Franchise......Page 120 8. Inexplicable Utterances......Page 132 9. “Population: Us”......Page 147 10. Doctor Who......Page 170 11. No Future Shock Here......Page 192 12. “No One’s Lazy in LazyTown”......Page 204 13. Flash Gordon......Page 226 14. Toys, a T- Rex, and Trouble......Page 237 15. “Manmade Mess”......Page 257 16. A Bumbling Bag of Ball Bearings......Page 271 About the Contributors......Page 288 Index......Page 292 Through spaceships, aliens, ray guns and other familiar trappings, science fiction uses the future (and sometimes the past) to comment on current social, cultural and political ideologies; the same is true of science fiction in children's film and television. This collection of essays analyzes the confluences of science fiction and children's visual media, covering such cultural icons as Flash Gordon, the Jetsons and Star Wars, as well as more contemporary fare like the films Wall-E, Monsters vs. Aliens and Toy Story . Collectively, the essays discover, applaud and critique the hidden--and not-so-hidden--messages presented on our children's film and TV screens.