Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • PodBean
  • Subscribe To The My Pal Sammy Newsletter
  • ABOUT
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

My Summer Lair

Think NPR's Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with host Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.

  • Home
  • Podcast
    • My Summer Lair
    • Space Station Oddity
  • Set The VCR
  • New Book Alert
  • True Sammy Stories
  • Toggle search form

Hot Docs 2019: Memory: The Origins of Alien

Posted on April 25, 2019March 6, 2023 By Sammy Younan No Comments on Hot Docs 2019: Memory: The Origins of Alien

Movies are our hieroglyphics. They are the most convenient way we immortalize myths and dreams and fears though over time the semiotics become convoluted.

In the original Star Trek the aliens known as Klingons were inspired by the fear of the Soviet Union and the cold war. As they’ve evolved over several shows and movies the original genesis has become muted, overlooked or just forgotten. Ironically so as we’re currently facing another wave of uneasy fear with “the Russians.” Klingons as a metaphor are no longer capable of conveying that Russian fear so science fiction creators will have to build bigger and bolder metaphors moving forward.

That’s the beautiful heritage of science fiction; it’s a steady evolution because everything is documented in books, movies, TV shows and more so there’s often no missing links. Memory a Hot Docs documentary on 1979’s Alien by Ridley Scott chronicles that sci-fi evolution recognizing the complex heritage that transcends the cinematic genre drawing from Francis Bacon paintings to ancient Egyptian mythologies.

I was trying to remember how Alien came into my life I’m not sure where I first saw it or what initially drew me to it. Like the crew of the Nostromo I had opportunities to turn away; to go on with my life and I didn’t take any of them.

Certainly the sequel Aliens captured my imagination especially being a James Cameron film, the Marines, the ruckus, the company’s dubious agenda…all of that captivated my generation though obviously not quite as large as Star Wars or E.T. did (which is a point made in the documentary when audiences overwhelmingly choose E.T. over John Carpenter’s The Thing both out at the same time.). There’s an ever present corny aspect to George Lucas and Spielberg and to their sci-fi. Even as a child there was a “what the hell is this crap?!” aspect to E.T. that made it Mac and Me easy to reject.

Close encounters of the keyboard kind…like what are we supposed to do this stuff?

As a child I couldn’t articulate it but I recognized those movies as the pop in pop culture; it wasn’t science-fiction or what I expected sci-fi to be. Alien, 2001, The Thing as they unfurled throughout the decade they resonated. As dark and as dystopian as they were (and are) they made far more sense than E.T.

Which is what makes Memory: The Origins of Alien so great: it’s able to articulate why the 79 movie resonated. The symbiotic relationship of Dan O’Bannon (screenwriter) and H.R. Giger (Alien designer) and Ridley Scott (director) drew from each other as much as they did comic books, Greek mythologies and much more to build a visual language able to express our (the collective our) unconscious feelings. Finally this cinematic “ESL” has given me a voice!

The documentary deconstructs how we got here because when we look back there is a clear path; often employing unseen materials like original story notes, rejected designs and storyboards even incorporating exclusive behind-the-scenes footage all reveal that path.

It is the potent coupling of highbrow and lowbrow and a bunch of other stuff that defy easy category. Like I’m comfortable in a museum as much as I am in a comic book store. So I’m connecting with everything in Alexandre Philippe’s Memory documentary because this is who I am and this is clearly who Alex is because his cultural imagination is sharpened by striking connections.

As you can guess this isn’t a how did they do that DVD extra it is a broad film essay of the (what turned out to be right) choices all involved in making Alien made. That’s another key aspect to what makes Memory so fascinating: it’s a commentary on the creation myth (the muse!) as much as it details the synthesis of what had come before to fashion a significant pop culture conscious altering moment. This sucker has more layers than a Canadian dressed for winter.

For example in the 79 Alien movie when asked if he admires the Xenomorph the robot…the non-human character Ash responds with human vulnerability: “I admire its purity. A survivor…unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.” Science-fiction has often associated itself with morality i.e. the classic cautionary tale so it is concerned (or perhaps more accurately it is burdened) with conscience. And that’s Ripley. She didn’t want to be in this position; in the end all of her choices were taken away so all that’s left is to do the right thing. She’s exchanged inspiration for efficiency. Fascinating!

However Ash is correct: as we’ve seen for 40 years the Xenomorph is beyond redemption and incapable of remorse…it will continue to blunder through our pop culture. It’s the classic nerd fight between popularity and quality…what’s popular isn’t always quality which can be so frustrating! Since Alien and Aliens the results have been uneven and often unsatisfactory. What the 1979 movie offered has proven difficult to template. And yet again like a magic trick Memory shows why.

Memory which’ll wrap up its Hot Docs run will be seen on screens throughout 2019 especially during San Diego Comic Con. It’s recently been acquired by Screen Media and Legion M so you will get a chance to see it and I highly recommend it.

Happy Alien Day 2019!

-28-

Movies Tags:Aliens, Documentaries, Hot Docs, Hot Docs 2019, Science-Fiction

Post navigation

Previous Post: Hot Docs 2019: Assholes: A Theory
Next Post: Hot Docs 2019: Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story

More Related Articles

Trailer Alert: Benjamin Movies
Trailer Alert: Godzilla: King of the Monsters Movies
Trailer Alert: Avengers: Endgame Comic Books
#CouchWorthy: 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic Movies
Dating Is Dated Movies
#CouchWorthy: The Power of the Dog Movies

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • #CouchWorthy: March 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    It’s hard to believe but we’re basically into April. Spring has sprung. However, before we leave March behind here are some TV highlights that are #CouchWorthy. Maybe you missed em or didn’t hear about em. What about something fresh? Or something different? Or fun! Then here ya go!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 27 – April 02, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR goes down a Rabbit Hole after a Knock At The Cabin. The dinosaurs are loose, there's a murder mystery and a couple of a-ha moments you can take…s'all on me? You're welcome!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Big Names in this week's #SetTheVCR: The Sandman, Mr. October, David Koresh and Tom Cruise. All they require is a Watcher, Britpop supplies the soundtrack.
  • #SetTheVCR: March 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week's #SetTheVCR is a fantastic TV tour: from Local comedy, to Irish hospitality to an Essex County visit after seeing Changeland you'll want to wear comfortable pants. Or no pants…even better!
  • #SetTheVCR: March 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    We got historical farts, spies in a cold war and a talking seashell…that can only mean it's #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 27 – March 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Selective Outrage, a ghost and a Lil Yoda…obviously it's time for #SetTheVCR!
  • #SetTheVCR: February 20 – 26, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Smile! It's a fresh week of TV; you don't need The Consultant to know the Circus is back in town. It's #SetTheVCR.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 13 – 19, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    This week in #SetTheVCR we go to space, technology runs amok and the American Government has been keeping UFOs secret. Welcome to the future…in this week's TV.
  • #SetTheVCR: February 06 – 12, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    A #SetTheVCR week that starts with a #GOAT…but will it end with a #GOAT?
  • #SetTheVCR: January 30 – February 05, 2023
    by Sammy Younan
    Ark you excited for another #SetTheVCR? Train your Watchful Eye on these fresh recommendations that'll make you Stand and cheer.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: DCEU Is Pee-Ew | Batgirl vs HBO MaxAugust 5, 2022
    Sammy & Rob Gaudette discuss and review the status of the DCEU following the cancellation of Batgirl on HBO Max. Rob still has hope.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: Contact Photography Festival 2022 | Culture SnapMay 12, 2022
    Sammy is joined by photographer Henry VanderSpek aka Culture Snap to discuss and recommend a happy handful of Contact Photography Festival exhibitions.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: A Taylor Hawkins MemorialMarch 28, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss the shocking and sad passing of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on March 25, 2022.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: All The Batmans | Keaton To Nipples to BatfleckMarch 10, 2022
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss All The Batmans: from Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck.
  • MSL Space Station Oddity: 2021 Induction Ceremony | Rock & Roll Hall of FameNovember 25, 2021
    Sammy & Stephanie discuss their happy highlights from the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

  • Yaron Weitzman (Tanking to the Top) and Sammy Younan in My Summer Lair 148
    Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers
    by Sammy Younan
    Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and the Most Audacious Process in the History of Professional Sportsby Yaron WeitzmanPublished by Grand Central Publishing on March 17, 2020NBA // Non-Fiction // 76ers One of the best lines in Yaron Weitzman’s NBA book: “Hinkie triggered a culture war.” Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers and...

    READ ON “Under-Review: Tanking to the Top: The Philadelphia 76ers” »

  • New Book Alert: January 10-14, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: January 3-7, 2022
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 8-12, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

  • New Book Alert: November 1-5, 2021
    by Sammy Younan

    My weekly collection of new and notable books for your pop culture pleasure and edification: #ReadMoreTweetLess.

Copyright © 2023 My Summer Lair.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme