Spatial Qualities of Cinematic frames in Sci-Fi Movies

Read the complete published paper here: Spatial Qualities of Sci-Fi Movies

Abstract

It can be said that cinema and architecture are the two art forms that represent space through different methods of spatial articulation. They both enable you to experience space while borrowing from the real world, with architecture responding to the social construction and cinema responding to imagination of the society. They both borrow examples from the real world and try to comprehend them by designing a space with a meaning and a feeling. Cinema Director has a task of creating a meaningful and a sensory spatial experience through the finite frames in a movie, understanding the content and inducing emotions into space through spatial planning and decisions. Whereas architecture in real life has infinite frames to convey the meanings and feelings in the spaces.

In cinema, the science fiction genre, or sci-fi, as it is colloquially called, through its projection of the future reflects the changing nature of life, society as well as the spaces where these alterations occur. It constructs this spatial experience by using architectural elements that aid the story telling by engaging the viewer through built environment.

As it attempts to showcase the future, this built environment is a window to the possibilities of spatial transformation with the stories weaving images of the impending change while allowing the storyteller to facilitate the journey of the viewer through what might soon be their spatial reality.

Ref: Image from movie 'The Matrix'

This research attempts to analyze Sci-fi genre by breaking it down into frames to understand the architectural decisions taken by the directors that enable them to generate certain experience for the viewers. This research hopes to utilize this analysis to establish an understanding of the articulation of spatial frames that would enable us to shape the architecture of the real world to create not just beautiful buildings, but also curate experiences.