Analysis of the science- fiction film I, Robot (2004)
The science- fiction film I, Robot (2004) takes place in a very futuristic world where the community has the aide of robots. These robots have had three laws integrated into the U.S. Robotics system. “One, they cannot harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Two, they must do whatever they're told by a human being as long as such orders don't conflict with law one. Three, they have to defend themselves as long as such defense doesn't conflict with laws one or two.” (myxmovie 01 15, 2008) With these laws in place, everyone believes the robots are absolutely amazing, except for one Detective for the Chicago Police Department, Del Spooner who is played by Will Smith.
This film depicts the male protagonists within sci-fi films that are demonstrated in American ideals of masculinity through Detective Del Spooner. Throughout the film, you can see the American ideals of masculinity, especially when Spooner will not change his mind about the robots, no matter how many people tell him they’re good and very reliable. Will Smith’s character constantly defies the laws that he is supposed to be enforcing as a detective to prove that he is, in fact, correct about how evil the robots truly are. Throughout the film, Spooner is put through life threatening scenarios from the robots because they want the community to be taken by surprise when they do in fact rebel. This is when one man, Detective Spooner, must save mankind from robots taking over the world and deactivate the robots central command.
I, Robot also illustrates the potential fears of American society by technology becoming too smart and advanced to where it can think on its own. Detective Spooner is convinced from the get go that the robots are not needed due to a tragic incident that occurred early on in his life and will stop at nothing to convince everyone that they are in fact evil. The dramatic ending of the film is where you see the fears in American society by technology becoming uncontrollable. The robots attempt to take over Chicago and the world by telling the people of Chicago what to do and what is good for them and disobeys all three of the laws that have been integrated into their system.
This film depicts the male protagonists within sci-fi films that are demonstrated in American ideals of masculinity through Detective Del Spooner. Throughout the film, you can see the American ideals of masculinity, especially when Spooner will not change his mind about the robots, no matter how many people tell him they’re good and very reliable. Will Smith’s character constantly defies the laws that he is supposed to be enforcing as a detective to prove that he is, in fact, correct about how evil the robots truly are. Throughout the film, Spooner is put through life threatening scenarios from the robots because they want the community to be taken by surprise when they do in fact rebel. This is when one man, Detective Spooner, must save mankind from robots taking over the world and deactivate the robots central command.
I, Robot also illustrates the potential fears of American society by technology becoming too smart and advanced to where it can think on its own. Detective Spooner is convinced from the get go that the robots are not needed due to a tragic incident that occurred early on in his life and will stop at nothing to convince everyone that they are in fact evil. The dramatic ending of the film is where you see the fears in American society by technology becoming uncontrollable. The robots attempt to take over Chicago and the world by telling the people of Chicago what to do and what is good for them and disobeys all three of the laws that have been integrated into their system.
Potential American Fears in the film I, Robot
This movie trailer on the 2004 science- fiction film I, Robot, depicts all three of our thesis questions. Nevertheless, I believe that this film portrays the potential fears on the American society because of the idea that technology can and/or will take over the world someday. The American society is threatened when one robot, Sonny, is thought to have broken the three laws that has been integrated into every robot when the creator of the laws is thought to have been pushed out of his tenth floor office at U.S. Robotics. However, you learn throughout the movie that Sonny was built differently, to help save mankind from the threats, recently made by robots.
- [I, Robot Trailer] myxmovie, . "I, Robot (Trailer 2004)." Last modified 01 15, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0f3JeDVeEo.
- Joshua Frye