Of body snatchers and cyberpunks

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Since its inception, science fiction has acted as an intellectual playground, addressing critical issues like scientific progress, population growth, nuclear power, environmental protection, and genetic engineering. These themes are projected onto various times and spaces to warn of dangers, propose solutions, or speculate about the future. In the summer term of 2009, students from the University of Göttingen and the University of Siegen engaged in two courses titled “Of Body Snatchers and Cyberpunks: American Science Fiction Film from the 1950s to the Present.” They convened for an undergraduate conference in Göttingen, presenting and discussing their research with Eric S. Rabkin, a professor and expert in the field. This collaboration resulted in a volume of twelve essays, selected and revised for publication from the conference presentations. The essays analyze key films such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Soylent Green, The Matrix, and Minority Report, contextualizing them within the social, political, cultural, and ecological developments of their respective eras in U.S. society. The introductory essay outlines the theoretical and methodological frameworks that guided the course and conference planning. Additionally, the collection includes an autobiographical essay by Eric S. Rabkin, reflecting on his lifelong fascination with science fiction films.