Breaking the Bad

“Sometimes, in order to see the light, you have to risk the dark.”

– Dr. Iris Hineman (Minority Report, 2002)

Why is it that, as a culture, we tend to expect in the inevitability of darkness?

It seems that, as our world dreams of its future, more often than not the picture is one of destruction and despair. For instance, in much of our science fiction storytelling, post-apocalyptic realities, common themes include worldwide corruption and oppressive regimes are common themes, especially in realm of film.  Through classic movies such as Blade Runner (often held as the standard for contemporary sci-fi), Serenity, The Matrix and many more, the future of our world is depicted as cold, disengaging and terrifying.  (Heck, even the Christian film industry has cashed in on this notion of apocalyptic reality through films like Left Behind and its subsequent sequels.)

Admittedly, there’s little argument that much of the intent behind science fiction is to offer a critique of our contemporary world and its issues.  For instance, there’s no question that Blomkamp’s District 9 and the highly anticipated Elysium serve as metaphors for larger, more immediate problems.  Still, it is interesting to note that the overarching theme of most science fiction films seems to be that the future is inevitably evil.  Sometimes that evil may be specified as the end result of greed (Elysium; In Time), over-reliance on technology (The Terminator, WALL-E) or war and oppression (The Hunger Games; Nineteen-Eighty Four).  Sometimes, as in the case with Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element, that evil simply remains an ominous and ever-present darkness.  Whatever the depiction, there is certainly a sense of hopelessness that permeates the atmosphere in contemporary visions of the future.

The real question is why?

Is it the assumption that things are so bad now that they can only get worse? Or is it some deeper belief that an oncoming darkness is simply part of who we are and, as a result, inescapable? Whatever the reason, every possible scenario points to the realization that the world is not the way that it’s supposed to be and that, left unchecked, it’s only going to get worse.  As a Christian, I recognize this stain upon humanity as the destructive presence of sin and its effect on our world.  Without question, the sinfulness of man has left damage in virtually every area of life, manifesting itself in ways that range from corporate greed to human trafficking.  As we gaze into our history and see the carnage in our wake, is it any wonder that our expectation of the future would be any different?

Fortunately, science fiction stories also offer another common element… the hero who fights the system.  From Elysium’s Max DaCosta (Matt Damon) to Snake (Kurt Russell) in Escape from L.A., every sci-fi features at least one character who attempts to defy the social conventions.  Some, like The Matrix’s Neo, manage to break the system, bringing freedom and hope.  Some, as in the case of Deckard (Harrison Ford) in Blade Runner, are less successful.  However, in every scenario, there is always one to recognize that this way of life cannot go on in the same way.  Although the results vary from film to film, each sci-fi venture places its protagonist on a quest for hope. 

In a larger sense, this quest for freedom and newness connects deeply as well within the Christian faith which points to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as the hope for humanity. (To be fair, that is not to say that every sci-fi hero is a Christ-figure.  Can you really accurately compare Jesus to Judge Dredd or even Iron Man’s Tony Stark?)  Through his humble sacrifice for humanity, Christ established his Kingdom in a way that offers hope in a world engulfed by darkness.  In other words, his life and ministry remind us that hope for the world is something tangible.  While many protagonists have been broken by the system in a way that causes them to rebel, Jesus himself is the very incarnation that things can—and were intended to be—different.  Because of who He is, we have hope.

With this in mind, it is important for us to recognize that sci-fi does offer us a window into the future, grim as that may appear to be.  As the ramifications of sin run rampant, science fiction films often remind us that our journey will drive us into further chaos if we continue along this path.  However, it is also crucial for us to realize that the God of the world is also building something new in its midst. Although it may appear that our culture lives in the heart of darkness, the light of His Kingdom is beginning to break through.

Even if Hollywood can’t always see it.

Elysium will be released on August 9^th, 2013.