They have graced the silver screen since its inception, creatures of imagination and unspeakable horror. Monsters and aliens are a time-honored staple in the repertoire of the movie industry. Through them, audiences have been able to live out their wildest fantasies and their darkest nightmares. But Hollywood monsters and aliens are more than just some screenwriter’s creation. They are the embodiment of the fears and the anxieties of society, and horror pictures or pictures with alien invaders provide a vivid historical narrative that illustrates the cultural and societal mores, fears and perceptions of any given time in the twentieth century. The monsters on the screen are the same monsters that lurk in the hearts and minds of the audience. Hollywood Aliens and Monsters would be useful for classes on American History, American Culture, Science and Technology, and Film Studies. It is appropriate for middles school and high school.

• advent
• allegory
• assimilate
• benign
• carnivores
• cinematic
• credibility
• cynicism
• dichotomy
• elaborate
• ensemble
• epidemic
• ethical
• franchise
• genre
• indict
• innovative
• insidious
• metaphor
• obliteration
• panorama
• purported
• simian
• sinister

1. The movies are filled with famous monsters and aliens. Who are some of your favorites? Why do these monsters and/or aliens appeal to you?

2. What is the role of the imagination in the creation of monsters?

3. The movies are a reflection of the larger society. Discuss how the movie screen has been the arena where fears of change and increasingly sophisticated technology have been played out.

4. Discuss the role of science and technology in the creation of Hollywood monsters and aliens.

5. Metropolis was a sophisticated, futuristic 1926 Fritz Lang production that portrayed a society of the distant future. How is this movie a social commentary of the conditions in 1926, even though it takes place in the future?

6. King Kong, one of the most popular movies in history, used the technique of stop motion animation. Describe this technique and how it was used to bring King Kong to life.

7. In 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. How did the realities of the bomb and atomic power surpass any of the horrors of science fiction up to that time?

8. Some of the most memorable and forgettable films were made during the Cold War. What was the Cold War? How is a cold war different than a hot war?

9. How do movies made in the mid-to-late 1940s reflect the anxieties of the response to the atomic bomb?

10. Discuss the Red Scare of the late 1940s and the early 1950s. What exactly was the Red Scare? How could it happen in a democratic country such as the United States?

11. Discuss how horror movies of the 1950s reflected the fears and anxieties of the Cold War and the fear of communism.

12. Discuss how movies of the 1960s reflected the space race.

13. Planet of the Apes made cinematic history with its unusual story line and dramatic make-up. What was so different about this movie?

14. George Lucas’ Star Wars and its sequels are some of the most popular movies ever made. Discuss the impact of Star Wars on American popular culture.

15. What does the saying “the monster within ourselves mean?” How does this relate to movies?

16. Discuss how the evolution of movie monsters and aliens has mirrored the advances in technology.

1. Create a timeline that illustrates the evolution of movie monsters and aliens in the twentieth century.

2. Design your own movie monster or alien for the 21st century.

3. Using Halloween make-up, create a monster face or alien face on yourself or a friend.