Discrimination In Alien Nation

Race and discrimination have been an important and popular topic for Hollywood to take on in the film industry. Many movies have been made about the subject using very conventional approaches; however, Alien Nation takes a more unconventional approach to the subject. Even the title of the movie alludes to the bigger meaning behind the film. Alien Nation; alienation. With the use of sound, makeup and costumes, and estrangement of the Newcomers’ characters Alien Nation sheds light on the racists attitude often seen displayed in America.
Sound in Alien Nation is one of the ways the filmmakers depict the difference in the Newcomers to humans. Their voices and native language are vastly different. Their native language obviously differs in ways

from that of the English language, and their voices are even manipulated slightly throughout the movie when speaking in their native tongue. Much like the immigrants of the early 1900’s and more recently, the Hispanic immigration movement, the Newcomers sound very different from Americans.
The diegetic and nondiegetic use of sound effects for the voices used are a play the different accents that America was made up of during the early 1800s. In an article titled "Immigration in the United States,” Joyce Bryant writes that, “The heaviest immigration worldwide took place from the early 1800's to the Great Depression, the economic hard times of the 1930's. In that period, about 60 million people moved to a new land. (Bryant, 1)” 60 million people came to a new land, and with them came 60 million different dialects and accents, and almost as many new languages. America seems to forget that when one refugee spaceship lands from another planet and they are forced to learn English, the citizens of America in the film never attempting to learn the Newcomer’s native tongue.
In Alien Nation the Newcomers, obviously an advanced alien species, are quick to learn English and communicate to American’s easily and efficiently. However, there are still discrepancies in the communication. While the Newcomers received “Earth” names like James Dean and Sam Francisco because their given names were too difficult for humans to pronounce (much like the African-Americans that were brought over on slave ships were renamed), “human” names, or “Earth” names, still draw a connection from their home planet. Francisco (or George as his partner refers to him), the Newcomer detective, tells his new partner that his name reminds him of something foul from his home planet; this is only after Skyes has made a joke at his name, but later when George mentions his name to another Newcomer, the other one laughs so the viewer can draw a connection that, although from different planets, sounds sometimes help bond people. Be it for better or worse.
In another scene from Alien Nation Detective Sam ‘George’ Francisco is on the phone with his wife in Detective Sergeant Matthew Skyes apartment, explaining that they will be working late, and the viewer can discern the difference of culture between the way George is speaking to his wife and the way Skyes would expect him to speak.

George uses his native tongue and although his partner does not understand the words he uses, he understands the overall tone of the conversation, even going so far as to ask if his wife keeps him on a short leash. While the two men are different in appearance and their native languages are not the same, the audience sees them growing a lot closer than they ever thought possible.
Another method used to to highlight the drastic differences between humans and Newcomers in Alien Nation is the use of makeup. From the shapes of their head to the markings on their necks Alec Gillis, Shane Mahan, John Rosengrant and Tom Woodruff, the makeup artists for Alien Nation, did an excellent job of giving the Newcomers a look of being ever so vaguely different from humans. While it was obvious that they were not from Earth the Newcomers did not stand apart too much. This made them easily distinguishable, however still gave them a slight human

appearance.
The reason behind this was probably to show the audience that while someone might appear different from one group of people it doesn’t make them completely different. Appearance should not be the dictator in how a human, or alien for that matter is treated, and that is one of the main points that Alien Nation tries to make.
Estrangement is the greatest connection between racism and Alien Nation.

The film draws connections between the opening scene where passers-by are being interviewed about their feelings on the Newcomers. Their answers range from feeling like their jobs are being taken, asking why we (referring to The United States of America) have to take them, and expressing fears for their educations because of the Newcomers seemingly advanced learning skills.
Rockne S. O’Bannon, the writer of the film, obviously wanted to make a connection between the way people often speak of immigrants and the way the characters were speaking of the Newcomers. In Things Made Strange, Simon Spiegel explains it best, saying: “In daily life, we often perceive things only superficially—i.e., we do not really see them the way they are. To truly see things again we must overcome our “blind” perception, and this is only possible when they are made strange again. (Spiegel, 369)”
Seeing something through a different perspective, even as something as frivolous about an alien spaceship crashing to Earth and the way the aliens and humans have to adapt, grow, and learn to live together in a buddy-cop movie setting, can change a person’s view on the subject. While it was intended to be a comedy with a deeper meaning perhaps the viewers went away laughing, but also realizing the depth in the

plot.
While there are many cultural differences in the movie, for example, the way Newcomers get intoxicated from spoiled milk instead of alcohol. The racist undertone of the film is strong to prove the point: the viewer sees how the two main characters bond over common things; wives and children, work and outter-family relationships. Ultimately the two bond and become close showing that despite the difference between humans and Newcomers, they are able to bond and form a strong friendship.
Spiegel says, “In sf [science fiction], all kinds of marvelous things may happen. People can travel in time, exceed the speed of light, and do many other things that, according to our present knowledge, we will never achieve in the real world. (Spiegel, 371)” Alien Nation is a true Science Fiction movie to the core; it utilizes estrangement to show the viewer a world where everyone on earth, despite their appearance, can all live in a bit more harmony than the world has today.
In closing, without the use of sound, makeup and costumes, and estrangement of the Newcomers’ characters Alien Nation, the racist undertone often seen displayed in America would not be as evident, and the movie would not have such a strong message of acceptance.