27th Annual Student Research Conference
"Canceling the Apocalypse": A Post-Colonial Study on Del Toro's "Pacific Rim"
Sebastian G. Maldonado-Velez
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Summer blockbusters are not generally viewed as films that express deeply significant cultural messages because of their focus on marketing rather than social commentary. Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro's 2013 film Pacific Rim breaks this mold by expressing the struggle suppressed cultures experience with foreign invaders while including science fiction elements in one movie. This essay will analyze the symbolism within the film through a post-colonial lens, especially through the works of Edward Said and Homi Bhabha, allowing a deeper look at how colonialism is not completely over. This essay intends to give a different view on perspective of Pacific Rim, one of social criticism wrapped in a summer blockbuster package.
Keywords: post-colonialism, Edward Said, Guillermo Del Toro, cinema, pop culture, Homi Bhabha, Pacific Rim
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 410-2
Location: VH 1320
Time: 2:45