A Comparative Analysis of “Rural Science Fiction”, a New Chinese Film Genre

Abstract

Abstract “Rural Science Fiction” (RSF) is a new category of science fiction comedy film, which has recently emerged in China. In RSF, modern farmers are presented as the protagonist, and alien visitors as the other. In the context of changing rural environments, two opposing views are expressed, which leads to a unique comedy: on the one hand, the vision of longing inspired by the trends of commercialization, industrialization, and urbanization; and on the other hand, the worthlessness of these trends. In RSF, thoughts concerning the prospect of technology, the future of human beings, and the interstellar interactions are mainly carried out from the perspective of country folks, whose wisdom is shown through indigenous methods that are adapted to local conditions. As a result, the “low-tech” earthmen typically defeat the “high-tech” aliens.