1. Unit 1 Investigating the Media Exam Topic: Science Fiction Films
Lesson 16
AQA GCSE Media Studies
Unit 1 Investigating the Media
Exam Topic: Science Fiction Films
Lesson 16 – Artificial intelligence in science fiction films and the codes and conventions of film posters
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2. Starter
I, ROBOT (2004) Watch the official trailer for I, Robot. It introduces the concept of artificial intelligence.

3. Starter DISCUSS Do robots/androids already exist?
Could a computer program be written to enable a robot to have human emotions?
Could it be a good idea to have robots to act as slaves for us?

4. Starter DISCUSS Do robots/androids already exist?
Yes - (3:07)

5. Starter
DISCUSS
Could a computer program be written to enable a robot to have human emotions?
Probably no - as a computer program is just a set of instructions, which can only follow a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ process to satisfy a set of conditions.

6. Starter
DISCUSS
Could it be a good idea to have robots to act as slaves for us?
Open to class discussion. It has links to the Industrial Revolution at the turn of the twentieth century, when mechanisation started and people were worried then that jobs would be lost. It also links to automation and our reliance on technology, and our ability to do the job will disappear. For example, relying on computerised navigation system, rather than using paper-map-reading skills – no thought process required, just following instructions!

7. The three laws of robotics
Isaac Asimov wrote a collection of stories about robots and their future impact on our world. One of the stories is called I, Robot and this was made into a film, starring Will Smith. Asimov also developed the Three Laws of Robotics, which are the principles for development of the robots in I, Robot.

8. The three laws of robotics
They are listed below:
 A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the first law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws.

9. Codes and conventions of film posters
The purpose of a poster is to promote the film and encourage an audience to go to the cinema to watch it. It does this by attracting the audience by placing key features and hooks in prominent places on the poster. There are generic codes and conventions for the design of film posters.

10. Codes and conventions of film posters

11. Codes and conventions of film posters
Are there any features missing? If so, why do you think this is?

12. Codes and conventions of film posters
Launch date?
Age certification?
Review text?

13. Codes and conventions of film posters
Design a film poster for: WE, ANDROIDS

14. Plenary
Watch the trailer for another film based on an Isaac Asimov book Bicentennial Man (1999) Who is the audience for this film?

15. Homework
ESSAY QUESTION: How is artificial life represented in science fiction films? Discuss with reference to two science fiction films.