The Fly

THE FLY

REACTION PAPER 

THURSDAY - DECEMBER 12, 2013

            The Fly is a science fiction story set in a Western home owned by a scientist and his wife plus their young boy. After murdering her husband, the woman started behaving strangely, freaking out whenever a fly is killed and asking the housemaids or her nurse to never hurt them and let them be. A policeman, who is a friend of theirs, tried to pry out the story behind her actions, and found out the tragic tale of her husband and the teleportation machine he invented. It turns out that when he tried to teleport himself, a fly have entered the glass chamber, thus mutating his head and hand into that of a fly while his true head have gone missing, along with the .

            The first thing that came to my head when I saw the movie was the remarkable creativity of the creator of the film. As a science fiction movie in its time, it is quite impressive because of how it was well-made. It managed to give us the thrill it was supposed to give to its audience when it was first released. It was not sloppy and disorganized like some other science fiction movies of its time. Another thing is how the human mind was able to conceive an invention such as a teleportation machine, thus presenting a possibility in the world of science. Who wouldn’t want a teleportation machine that actually works? Also, what will be the effect of this kind of technology in the society? It would be easier to travel, no need ride cars and be delayed because of the traffic or the lack of gasoline. Imagine a society where travel is made easier and more convenient.

            But this kind of technology also have its cons. The ‘what ifs’ will always be there, like the terrible accident that happened to the scientist who invented it and its effect to his family as well.  There are many factors that needs to be considered before inventing something as great as a teleportation machine. But then again, the movie was merely a fruit of the creator’s imagination and is simply presenting a possibility. 

Kay Noreene P. Dula

2013-68905 

The Fly reaction paper

Naguiat, Maria Felicia
2011-17398

The 1950s film "The Fly" was a very interesting film. The movie itself was entertaining, thought provoking and slightly horrifying. I think the film was interesting and entertaining because of the plot itself. The movie also managed to capture its viewers by adding a little mystery to the storytelling.
"How far will you go for science?" I think that's the question the film was trying to raise. It is also a commentary of the consequences and the risks of developing new technologies. "Is the risk worth it? Is losing one life justified by the advancement of technology?"
The view of science and technology in the 1950s, as shown in the film, is that science and technology can be scary and dangerous. In the film, the scientist destroys his work instead of passing on his work to another person who could have learned from his mistakes. I believe this is another view of science and technology during the 50s; that morality should not be played with for the sake of the greater good.

The Fly (1958)

At the beginning I was asking, what will this whole movie be all about? I was slightly expecting it to be like a few animal-related movies I have already watched before. However after a few minutes of the film, it proved to be something quite good and mind-puzzling - especially when Helene killed her husband and appearing all calm and collected while narrating what had transpired during the murder to the investigator but acting a bit weird at the sight of a mere fly. And the details were effectively presented, without giving everything away.

The entire plot of the film was odd but very interesting. It was centered on a scientist with a goal of helping other people through discovering new technologies and inventing new machines who, unfortunately, became a victim of his own invention.

In the film it was emphasized by both the characters Andre and Helene that it was dangerous to try scientific experiments on animals and humans for it might be dangerous. People (especially at that time during the 50s) are uncertain of the possible effects of their new discoveries in science. However Andre’s eagerness to know if his machine is a success led him to try it on their pet cat – his first try at live subjects. When it failed he continued to improve his machine and tried multiple times until he succeeded. It could have been a good thing, until the accident happened when the fly and Andre had exchanged parts of their bodies. This showed one (if not the worst) of the downsides of science. In our never-ending desire to discover things, we momentarily cease to consider possible outcomes especially the negative.

There are things which we better not know.

Reaction Paper on The Fly

Monica Tricia L. Rivera

2013-14349

The Fly (1958) is a film about the consequences of taking experimentation to the extreme. A lot of my classmates didn’t like the film. They thought it was disgusting. However, I don’t think anyone would disagree with me when I say that it was very entertaining and interesting. The concept was so weird. Of course it wouldn’t bore anyone. But beyond that, it was very intriguing and thought provoking. Sure, the film was quite icky at times, but it creatively and effectively portrayed the themes: intellectual pursuit and romantic tragedy.

The protagonist was Andre, a very dedicated scientist. He was often shown working in his basement. He was so dedicated that he even attempted to experiment on himself.  Through Andre, the film was able to illustrate scientists as extremely dedicated–or even obsessed–with the pursuit of knowledge. Because of such dedication or obsession, they sometimes do things that are already unsafe and too risky. The film can somehow be considered a morality play because it teaches us to not be too obsessive over anything, even if we have good intentions. Such an obsession can lead to harming others and ourselves.

Given the storyline, I think that people from the 1950s probably viewed working in Science as something dangerous. They view it as something that people end up losing their lives too because they forget about other important things. It is so dangerous that one can literally die because of it.

To conclude, The Fly was very disturbing, and rightfully so. It was creepy just watching a half human/half fly, but the underlying themes and messages were even more unsettling. The film teaches us to not to enslave ourselves by obsessing over a specific thing.

The Fly (Reaction Paper)

The Fly (1958)

The Fly is a science fiction film that tells about a story of an aspiring scientist who eventually got caught in his own experiment.  To brief the story, he invented a device that can transport inanimate objects. He had a mixed of successful and failed attempts. Later on he built a human size chamber and used himself for the experiment but failed when a fly accidentally got trapped in his device. He asked his wife to look for a fly to rectify it, and as the time runs out, he was closing to becoming like a fly so his wife had no choice to murder him.

First of all, this is one of the weirdest films I’ve ever seen.  It was interesting since it gives a lesson on the infinite possibilities of little things. See what a fly can do. This movie is interesting, so to speak.  Another important thing that should be taken from this movie is the ethics involved in doing a scientific stuff. Whether it be an experiment, research or other forms of study, people should always bear in mind the risks of doing such things. There is a fine line between curiosity and foolhardy so be careful where you trip.

Considering the time, I can also say that science and technology were successful in the 50’s, since people already strived to make their lives easier. Mistakes are how we learn, and if it weren’t for their mistakes, probably this Information Age would not be ours, our time.  

Reaction Paper : The Fly

Name: SY, DANICA M.
SN: 2013-50915

1. Was the film entertaining and interesting? Why?


The film is interesting because it makes one curious about the present realities regarding the development of science and technology. Are there also untold incidents wherein drastic results happen in laboratories and the like in search of incomparable results? Moreover, it also makes us realize that science and technology can be so powerful that the search of these “incomparable results” may end up in having extraordinary and out-of-this-world ones which might be irreversible.      

2. What was the film's commentary on Scientists and the conduct of science? Would you consider it a morality play? Why?

Although without daring experimentations like what the scientist did in the film we would not have the technology that we have right now, going overboard and beyond your capabilities is another thing. Destroying the natural order of things to produce exceptional results is not a way to prove the cleverness of a person or an invention. I think it is a morality play since it tackles decisions which affect life. It is important to note that life, whether of humans or those of animals, should still be respected and preserved at all costs. People tend to “play God” when they want to control everything even those which should not be controlled. Science and technology cannot be prioritized over life.

3. How does it reflect the view of Science and Technology in the 1950s?


In the 1950’s wherein technology was very different from how it is today, I think people especially in the field of science and technology were eager to make and produce something exceptional. They viewed science and technology as a tool to materialize and exhibit their knowledge up to the point of making what seems impossible possible. At the same time, the film also exposed the possible harms of human’s desire in exploring science and technology that even if what they want is for the betterment of society, it would not always end up as something positive and beneficial. 

THE FLY by Kurt Neumann

"The Fly" is a sci-fi movie wherein a scientist named Andre was found dead in a hydraulic press. His wife Helene confesses for the murder but refuses to tell any motive. Francois - Andre's brother - lied about catching the white-headed fly Helene was so obsessed about; her flashback told the whole story.

In the beginning, I did not fully understand the story and I could not make sense of Helene confessing to the murder of her own husband. However, as the story progresses and comes to the point of her flashback, I began to understand it. I like how the concept of the teleporter - Andre called it 'disintegrator-integrator' - was on a film that seems so old. The scientific topics were explained in the movie as if it is actually possible. I like how the ideas came together to form the device.

The traits of a scientist were exhibited by Andre, especially curiosity and taking a step further and deeper. He tested inanimate objects, then a cat and a guinea pig, then himself. The failure in his experiment was really scary: being fused with a fly.

Some of my classmates screamed when they saw the head of the fly on Andre's body and I was surprised, too. I wasn't expecting that. I LOVED that part.

The ending on covering up the truth instead of using it in the court was great. It's what mostly happens in real life - the truth is kept secret for the avoidance of unwanted disasters and commotions. Only fools curious enough obtains the truth, but also has dangerous consequences. I'm not certain on what I feel on the movie as a whole. Suffice it to say that I don't feel like I wasted an hour and a half of my time. In other words, I enjoyed it. :)

Reyes, Paollo Deo R.

2013-66992 

The Fly: Reaction Paper

   The movie clearly embodies the things that science can do: one is invent and contribute things to the world and the negative one is bring harm to the ones involved in the experiment. It is a science fiction film although it can be a true story itself when essential things are forgotten by a scientist.

   The Fly depicts a great contribution to science and technology (if it became a success) which is teleportation. The movie shows the struggles of the scientist, his experiments, as he creates the teleportation device. Also seen are the moments with his family although he spends more time in his laboratory. For society, this movie isn’t helpful because there are noticeable harm inflicted to animate objects. First is the disappearance of the cat. Second is what happened to the scientist. He accidentally exchanged his head and hand with that of the fly that entered the teleportation device when he experimented once. This made him even more distant to his family. This saddens his son and even so, his wife.

   Experiments really have uncertainties. But as taught, one has to consider the scientific value of a being that will be involved in an experiment. One must think of ethics. One must be careful and sure that there will be no unnecessary harm posted on the subjects because as living creatures, there are also people, families, and even animals behind each of us. They will not want something bad to happen to us, and we will not want to leave them in an unpleasant predicament just like what happened to the family of the scientist.

Keanne Samar, 2013-16445

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

REACTION PAPER 

            Her hawk-like eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of movement or activity of animals. With her bow and arrows, she looks dangerous and ready to kill the first animal she sees in the vicinity. It was a cold winter morning, and the forest is eerily silent, with almost no traces of life. This huntress patiently awaited her prey, always ready to shoot when it is in her light of sight. Katniss Everdeen, the latest victor of the 74^th Hunger Games of the city of Panem, the ‘girl on fire’, looks like a formidable being in the sight of those who see her. Things were supposed to be looking up after the games, and the ‘love story’ that she and Peetah shared was supposed to bloom into something greater, but what happened was the opposite. And after a year, they were to face yet another huge challenge, the 75^th Hunger Games. But this time, it is going to be very different, because the tributes will be the former victors. It turns out that a special twist called the Quarter Quell, which happens every 25 years, gathers all the victors from each district and select who will represent their district. Of course, Katniss and Peeta were the tribute of District 12. Upon arrival at the capital, they met their opponents, both strong and weak, all veterans and experts of the games. Pres. Snow prepared such an elaborate arena, saving no expense for the sake of making it more interesting. And so, the tribute victors were once again thrown inside the arena, not knowing the fate that belies in their future. Equipped with the most advanced technology in order to make it more exciting, the game master signalled for the games to begin. And that is the start of Katniss’ and Peeta’s another adventure.

            Yes, the movie was a science fiction that projects a futuristic society with impressive technology, and somehow developed a weird sense of fashion and style among the elites in the capital of Panem. But, upon careful observation, one will notice that the whole of Panem is under military rule, and is somewhat similar to the Roman Empire. Despite the many technological advancements and lavish lifestyle in the capital, the living conditions of the citizens in all twelve districts seemed to be far from the glitter and glamour in the big city. In fact, I have noticed that it is very similar to the Romans in terms of culture and government. It incorporates traditions such as the hunger games similar to the fights held in coliseums in Rome; like the fights between gladiators that the Roman love so much back in the olden days. The people in each district portrayed a life full of hardships and misery. It all seemed too familiar to me. It’s like Adolf Hitler all over again, but instead of a German lunatic ruling over Panem, it’s Pres. Snow, another power hungry leader and a great control freak. They are just a few levels higher from a primitive lifestyle.

If you think about it, what is happening to Panem is beginning to happen to us now and will be fulfilled in the near future of the current state of this nation continues to be as it is now. The number of starving individuals in every region continues to grow day by day, while the wealth of the upper class continues to expand further. Already, the citizens are beginning to hold uprisings against the corrupt system, demanding change from the government and further actions to immediate problems.

As the story progresses, we could see that science, technology, and the society failed to succeed in the world of the thirteen districts in terms of suppressing their need for change and desire to start a revolution to overthrow the current system. There are certain things that science and technology can never overpower, such as the need for freedom and security in all aspects of life. Even the society cannot stop the uprising because this was already expected, given the fact that the citizens from these districts have been living in constant fear and wanted a change badly. Science, technology and society failed to extinguish the beacon of hope that they saw in Katniss Everdeen, something that we in the real world should also copy. We shouldn’t let anything and anybody overcome us with fear and uncertainties, especially when fighting for the rights that we should be having as citizens. Something that all of us deserves as human beings.

Kay Noreene P. Dula

2013-68905