A Study on the Construction of the National Media Image of American Science Fiction Films in the New Century

As a significant genre of Hollywood blockbusters, science fiction films showcase the unbeatable technological prowess of the United States, serving as a vital avenue for international communication and the display of a powerful national image. Science fiction films have left a distinctive impression on audiences worldwide, portraying the United States as the global leader in technology, owing to the presence of real scientific research facilities, enigmatic scientific symbols, advanced research equipment, and extraordinary imagination within the genre. Since the turn of the century, American science fiction films have undergone a significant shift in their communication strategy, presenting a "hardcore Iron Man" national media image. This paper, employing agenda-setting theory and content analysis methodology, explores the specific pathways through which American science fiction films constructed the national media image from 2000 to 2019.