Expansionism Exposed In Voyage To The Moon

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The very first famous sci-fiction silent film Voyage to the Moon provides us with a glimpse of societies’ norms and beliefs from the late 19th century. Every scene is highly satirical towards European empire-building in African land. The film begins with a team of astronomers, in long robes planning to go to the moon. When the plan is described, one astronomer waves his arms to express his strong disagreement. The leader, throws a book at the protester’s head and then picks his favorite’s from the society to go along with him to the moon. There is a prominent resemblance of this proposal and the violent retaliation of the astronomers to those in congress in the 19th century. Specifically the conference of Berlin of 1884-1885. …show more content…

As soon as they get there the astronomers start their exploration and run into the strange civilization inhabitants, the Selenites. The Selenites quickly capture the astronomers and take them to the palace where their king is located. One of the astronomers lifts the king up and violently throws him against the floor causing him to burst and disappear into smoke, hinting the king’s death. The astronomers run to their capsule, killing Selenites on their way. These Selenites and that of those conquered during the French expansionism, particularly the Africans, are complementary of how the white men invaded their land for their benefits not taking in consideration how the selenites felt and in the 1830’s case France not taking into consideration of how the African people felt. France just like the astronomers attacked the land natives, the African people, with violence. The idea of the Selenites dying with one blow by the civilized earth men, symbolized how the French conquered African territory with their gun “blows”. Illustrating how the humans are much stronger than the Selenites, resembling how the French were considered much more stronger and intelligent over the African people. In conclusion, what the Selenites were to the astronomers, aliens, the Africans were to the European