The UFO craze that followed a reported 1947 sighting near Mt. Rainier coincided with the dawn of the Cold War and Holllywood's depictions of extra-terrestrials landing in the all-American landscape of the post-WWII boom years. Using film clips to illustrate, film critic Robert Horton will examine the underlying anxieties that resulted in the alien-invasion scenarios of 1950's science fiction films. Comparisons will be drawn with similar offerings today including the 2005 War of the Worlds remake, demonstrating how pop culture always reflects its era.
Sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Washington State Legislature.