sexual-repression-in-sf
The tendency in classic science fiction, especially films of the 1950s, to repress or subliminally express human eroticism, often manifesting sexuality as neurotic symptoms or unconscious pathology.
1 chapter across 1 book
Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985 (2021)Andrew Nette and Iain McIntyre
This chapter examines the treatment of sexuality in science fiction from the 1950s through the 1970s, highlighting the tension between repression and expression within the genre. It discusses how early SF films and literature often sublimated or censored erotic themes, while the New Wave movement and certain 1960s-70s works challenged these taboos by openly exploring sexual content. The chapter also traces precursors in 1950s SF that began to address sexual themes more explicitly, setting the stage for later radical developments.