"The Cultural Significance of Extraterrestrials" Have you ever wondered why so many people seem caught up in the idea of extraterrestrials? However it began, something uncanny is going on inside of Americans' imaginations. At least that is the message one gets when contemplating the continued fascination with movies like Men in Black, Mars Attacks!, Independence Day, and Star Wars. Entertainments featuring extraterrestrials are not just entertainments; they are signs. Think about the history of science …showed first 75 words of 529 total…

…showed last 75 words of 529 total…appeal of the supernatural in a tidily popular package. The point is simply that entertainments with extraterrestrials are not just entertainment. "They are signs, indicators of the larger social and cultural forces and trends behind them."(14) We can also conclude that science fiction can serve as a substitute, or metaphor, for the real-world worries and anxieties. Works Cited Maasik, Sonia and Solomon, Jack. Signs of Life in the USA. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin's, 2000