From Cinema Myths to Science Fantasy: Contemporary Hybrid Cinema and Sci-Fi “Avatars”
From Cinema Myths to Science Fantasy: Contemporary Hybrid Cinema and Sci-Fi “Avatars”

Summary/Abstract: Departing from the concept of “science fantasy” – increasingly employed in postwar film genre theory (Malmgren, 1988; Attebery, 1992) – the paper analyses a hybrid genre and the related structure overlaps and cross-strategies, as well as the practice of contemporary Sci-Fi of assimilating and recycling traditional myths and fantasy motifs. Thus, the paper focuses on the manner in which contemporary cinema storytelling has evolved towards hybrid genre paradigms, combining cultural and particularly cinematic strategies and motifs belonging to diverse and sometimes incongruous traditions. However, these elements target the familiarity of the audiences and therefore legitimise themselves based on their belonging to a collective cultural memory. The case study discusses Cameron’s 2000s iconic film Avatar as illustrating the concept of “science fantasy” in its hybrid cinematic approach, combining in a complementary manner implicit religious and myth patterns with scientific Sci-Fi stereotypes.

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