Possible Research Topics

Inspired by the deeper historical look we have had of films and supportive scores we have been examing, I am in really interested in examining gender, identity and sexuality as seen in SciFi Fiction films and audio representations through Character Scores. Below are a few possible topics to explore:

Wall-E, Forbidden Planet, iRobot and Star Wars

Examining Wall-E, Forbidden Planet, iRobot and Star Wars (as examples), to what extent do we as viewers anthropomorphize robots, their emotions and their "implied" love for one another. We are led to believe each robot has a gender, and through subtle cues are led to believe that Wall-E is in love with the "EVE" robot.

• Other angles of consideration: What response would a viewer have to watch Wall-E on mute or to have the character sound scores switched? 
• There are certain scores associated with gender and how the sexes interact with each other. How much of that is learned as opposed to intuitive? Do you have to be a robot to be seen as A-Sexual?
• Even looking at Forbidden Planet and 2001: A Space Odyssey, what is the need to impose the idea of gender or sexuality on robot characters?

Star Trek v. Star Wars
Examine the stories of Star Wars and Star Trek, to determine how male and female roles and sound scores have evolved, over the past 30 years.

• Compare the patterns and evolution within each, given that Star Wars has had the same director/producer (George Lucas) and that Star Trek series has varied from TV to each movie. 
• The original Star Trek show had no senior female officers. Nyota Uhura was the communications officer, so without seeming blunt, a gloried receptionist. Her role was considered "ahead of it's time" as Uhura was an African American woman playing a "non-menial" role.

Futuristic Sounds in 1950s SciFi Films

Was there any predictive sound development behind how 1950s sci-fi films suggested computers and other objects should sound like, compared to how they actually sound? Are we stuck in our imagination of future sounds and soundscapes, because such sounds are based on sounds in current time?

Alien Franchise v. Star Trek

Alien and Prometheus series feature female lead/protagonist. In Star Trek the lead is always a male. 

• How do the character sound scores differ based on male or female leads, between the Alien and Star Trek series’?