How Watching 50s & 60s SciFi Flims Became a Comfort for Library Assistant Jared Miller: Casa Grande AZ

Join Christian Jones and Regan Bell with their guest, Jared Miller, as they chat about the world of science fiction, particularly in film. Jared is a library assistant at a public library. In his free time, he watches science fiction movies of the 50s and 60s as a pastime. Today, he talks about his fascination with science fiction films in the 50s and 60s and events of that period which greatly influenced them. There’s a lot to take away from this episode, so make sure to tune in and enjoy the show!

A Product of Its Time

Cheap effects, weird-looking, and plainly old – that is what most people would describe science fiction movies from the 50s and 60s. But for Jared, these come with the complete package. The social, cultural, and political motives that influenced these films made Jared fascinated with them. After World War 2, American science fiction films boomed their way into popularity which paved the way to the ones at present. The 1950s was the golden age of science fiction. Jared was also amazed at the art form applied to the movies. Practical effects were the only technology available at that time, yet the intention behind and the arduous production process fueled his obsession. The movies also reflect society and show a visual representation of what people thought of the future. An artist’s imagination of how the world would look and the technology they believe would be possible is what Jared loves about these movies. While there are issues represented in these films that are now unacceptable, Jared reminds us that these are products of the time. It only shows how the times have changed, including what people believe in.

About Jared Miller:

Jared Miller lived in Pensacola for 13 years, where he attended middle school and high school. Currently, he is a library assistant at a local downtown library in Casa Grande, Arizona. When Jared is not arranging the shelves at the library, he is time traveling 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and warring with the worlds on The Day the Earth Stood Still in the 1950s and 60s science fiction films. For Extended Show Notes Visit www.fantasticpeoplepod.com 

Outline of the Episode:

• [02:44] What took Jared away from the old Gulf Coast, and what he does for a living
• [06:42] Jared’s obsession with science fiction movies of the 50s and 60s
• [08:02] UFOs as the subject that influenced the popularity of the genre in the 80s
• [11:06] The connection between science fiction and the birth of cult films
• [12:50] Appreciation despite its cheap-looking appearance due to lack of technology
• [19:33] Mythic Quest episode that described science fiction’s influence on a person
• [24:44] The comfort Jared found in the 50s and 60s sci-fi movies
• [26:57] Fascination with artist interpretations of retro-futurism and space travel
• [30:01] Look back to the originals and how CGI lost the magic of stop motion
• [33:01] What makes Jared come back to these movies aside from the art form?
• [37:10] Constructive criticisms for the fan community of the 50s and 60s sci-fi movies
• [40:03] What the future holds for these films from a production and viewer standpoint

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