Sci-fi, as a very important subject in the field of cinema, has had a very wide audience since the 90’s and is an integral part of the film industry. Films with this theme have one thing in common: the fantasy of the future technology of mankind. For example, Marvel, a popular science fiction film company in the market, has made many films around genetic modification, such as the Hulk, Captain America and the Winter Soldier. The double-sided nature of genetic modification is evident: on the one hand, innocent beings who are forced to be modified become the focus of attention, become powerful and are exploited by egoism; on the other hand, there is a common threat to all living beings, including the modified species. As a result, China achieved the world’s first human gene-edited baby in late 2018. So in the audience’s decode, science fiction is also the creator’s prediction of the development of the real world.
Sci-fi films are supposed to be commercial films prompted by the times, and their big budget visual effects films are mainly meant to entertain the public. But this faces the big question of whether the audience’s decoding of the creators will cause misunderstanding. When viewers go to decode, social media can associate, will this film be criticising the irresponsibility of arms companies towards unarmed innocent people because of their profits; criticising capitalism? And furthermore, I wonder if the creators are in favour of banning private ownership of firearms. Works of art are all about the decoding of phenomena by their creators, encoded in a certain form of discourse, and then secondarily decoded by us. But different encoders and decoders have different intellectual frameworks, and the more alienated the message becomes under different discourse systems. In the end, it may result in the creation of social opinion.
So Stuart Hall’s theory of encoding and decoding, which has been so influential for communication studies, has some limitations. Hall stops at textual analyses of audiences in a position of resistance. But “the search for reasons for different interpretations or resistance at the discursive level is superficial and half-hearted; secondly, the coding and decoding graphic depicted by Hall lacks a link about how the decoder reproduces. Hall’s coding and decoding theory can give us guidance when we feel confused and puzzled in the face of complicated cultural phenomena. For example, when science fiction film triggers social thinking, we no longer regard it as a form of visual culture. This is because, while the film style of sci-fi is ostensibly intended to serve an entertainment function, it often has a deeper social significance, thus enlightening people to think deeply. Therefore, no matter how new the forms of pop culture are, and no matter how rich the forms of media are, Hall’s theory allows us to look beyond the surface and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural factors and phenomena involved in the transmission of a certain message, from encoding to decoding.
I really like your article. You researched encoding and decoding in science fiction movies. And you also put forward the critical viewpoint that Stuart Hall’s encoding and decoding theory, although having a significant impact on communication studies, also has some limitations, and summarized that although science fiction film styles may appear to have entertainment functions on the surface, they often have deeper social significance. Great release, thank you for benefiting me from it.
I really enjoyed the example you gave as many sci-fi products often reflect the views of those who write them within it’s worldbuilding especially as writers often have to delve into different themes and topics- though the example of marvel can also get into more action and super-hero type content. I also enjoyed how you were more critical towards the theory- showing that while in some regards it is helpful in others it may not be easy to apply.
Very good article. I am a science fiction movie enthusiast, but I think the audience sometimes over interprets the meaning of the film. I strongly support your point of view, but personally, I believe that science fiction movies mainly satisfy people with their actions and special effects. Many times, many viewers seem to be too picky. Sometimes many movies like to advocate for absolute justice, which I believe is also unacceptable. Everything has two sides. If we try to understand some of the intentions of the villains from their perspective, I think it is also an interesting thing. Looking forward to your next article!
Well written! I also like science fiction movies very much, and the part that attracts me is the story line with rich imagination. In your blog, you have also applied the theory to tell us some limitations. I think some commercial films are also entered with some rich thinking content and emotions, so not all commercial films are only entertaining. Just like Marvel, although many of its films have a very strong commercialization, there are also a lot of profound truth and emotional links between people.