Humans Mini Mock

To what extent does the first episode of Humans conform to conventions of the science fiction genre? [15] (25 minutes)

  • Conventional or unconventional?
  • Allegory
  • Issues of representation
  • Generic paradigms
  • Repetition and difference
  • Comparisons with other science fiction media
  • Media language (shot types, camera angles, sound, editing, etc...)

Humans both conforms to conventions but also not a hard sci-fi novel. It's genre would be considered more as alternative present meaning it is polysemic and has multiple meanings. Some of the genre conventions it follows are the glowing eyes, 18+ card, artificial intelligence, synths vs. humans. 

In the first episode of Humans, the first scene after the credits where they are at home then go and buy Anita is where we first notice this may not be a completely conventional science fiction series. This is because its starts of in a normal family home, lots of mess, Joe the dad is on the phone whilst multi tasking cooking breakfast, the lighting is bright and sunny and costume and dress is all fairly normal. This suggests the genre alternative present, as what we are seeing is very similar to our own lives so the audience would relate to this. What follows this scene is when some of the more sci-fi conventions we would typically see and hear are shown, for example the intense techno music and shots of the sythns all lined up creates an enigma code and feels more like what you might see in other science fiction films. The editing pace is conventional with 2 or 3 second cuts. They also use camera work like close-up shots of Anita's eyes as they unzip the case she is in. 

The series is an allegory, a stand in for somthing else. The science fiction genre isn't about science or fiction, it means something else; it tells us about the world we live in today and this is what Humans is doing. It is making it feel very real for the audience as it is set in the present day in London. Some themes that are presented in the first episode are, modern slavery, prostitution and the rights of sex workers, dangers of technology, and representation of women. The breakfast scene we see later in the first episode is also quite unconventunal to the sci-fi genre, it follows similar themes to the opening scene apart form there is now the synth Anita in the house doing all the chores, making breakfast etc... In conclusion i think the first episode of humans doesn't conform to many science fiction genres but follows the alternative present genre more closely. 

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