Representation of Future Lifestyle in Science Fiction Hollywood Movies: Semiotic Analysis of Movie Tomorrowland (2015) for Technological Utopianism

Movies projecting future deliver a carefully engineered vision of our lives in the times to come. Life in future is built on the basis of advancements in technology. Whatever is portrayed in these movies have consequences on the perception of viewers for their future life. This study explores how do filmmakers in Hollywood represent technology and the possibilities that come with it in science fiction movies. Moreover, the potential of advanced prototypes to become real world technologies is also explored along with the contribution of these to construct a utopian or dystopian version of future world. Theoretical concept of technological-utopianism is used for the study. Qualitative method of semiotic analysis is applied with its concepts of denotation, connotation and myth to analyze the signs presented in the selected scenes of movie Tomorrowland(2015). The overall impression of a scene is analyzed as mise en scene. It is found that technology is displayed as a primary factor of advancement in a future society. The prototypes of technology are showcased to offer the potential of becoming real world technologies by adding to the utopian desires of humans. The superiority of technology in comparison to human beings is also presented. The order presented in the lifestyle and city structures shows control and creates a feeling of alienation for movie characters.