The Solar Invasion Paperback Cover 1968

Editor: So, here we have Frank Frazetta's "The Solar Invasion" paperback cover from 1968. The swirling colours and dynamic figures definitely evoke a sense of pulp adventure. There's a clear hero protecting these two women from, what looks like, some sort of metallic aggressor, standing on some monstrous flora... What can we unpack from this piece? Curator: Let’s consider this piece in the context of its time. It's 1968, and ideas around gender roles and power are really shifting, albeit often in complicated and contradictory ways. Who are these characters in relation to one another? Consider their poses and how they reflect a potential social dynamic: What narratives are suggested by how Frazetta has positioned each figure? How does this relate to social changes underway in the late 60's? Editor: I see the way the women are portrayed – one in need of rescuing, and the other seemingly in a subservient fighting stance - might reflect, or even reinforce, existing power structures that subjugated women at that time. Curator: Precisely. How does that make you feel? It is useful for us, as modern viewers, to analyze how Frazetta might engage, or disengage with evolving ideals around intersectional gender issues of the era, or the depiction of violence. Editor: It’s definitely a product of its time, with some problematic aspects viewed through today's lens. Curator: Indeed. Examining works like these enables us to reflect on how far we've come, and to better consider the power dynamics embedded in the cultural productions we consume. Are there still dynamics from works such as these that repeat in modern superhero or science fiction sagas? Editor: This perspective makes me appreciate the value of interrogating art beyond its surface aesthetics. Recognizing the social commentary—intentional or otherwise—adds so many layers.