First published 2010
Jonathan Lethem dissects John Carpenter's 1988 film They Live in this inaugural volume of the Deep Focus series. Lethem examines Carpenter's deliberate B-movie that blends science fiction, horror, and anti-corporate satire. The book explores how the film strips away human disguises to reveal capitalism's monstrous rulers beneath. Lethem's analysis draws connections across multiple cultural spheres, incorporating insights from visual artists Barbara Kruger and Jenny Holzer, musician James Brown, theorist Fredric Jameson, street artist Shepard Fairey, and writers Philip K. Dick and Edgar Allan Poe. He also considers Alfred Hitchcock's influence and examines the cultural significance of professional wrestling, particularly the role of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who starred in the film. Through penetrating and free-flowing examination, Lethem contextualizes Carpenter's paranoid vision within broader conversations about art, music, and contemporary theory, offering readers a completely fresh lens through which to view this subversive cinema classic.
Genres: science-fiction, satire, horror, action
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: paranoia, social-commentary
Period: 1988
177 pages · Kindle Edition · Soft Skull Press