1995 04 00 Studies in Popular Culture - Vol 17 No 2 - Chris D Bader.pdf

Magazine Overview

Title: Studies in Popular Culture
Issue: Vol. 17, No. 2
Date: April 1995
Publisher: Popular Culture Association in the South
Article Title: The UFO Contact Movement from the 1950s to the Present
Author: Chris D. Bader

This issue of Studies in Popular Culture features an article by Chris D. Bader that traces the evolution of the UFO contact movement from its origins in the late 1940s to the mid-1990s. The article examines how the public's perception and the nature of UFO encounters have transformed over time, influenced by mass media, cultural trends, and specific influential cases.

The UFO Contact Movement from the 1950s to the Present

Media Saturation and Early Narratives

In recent years leading up to 1995, claims of UFO abduction and contact have become increasingly prominent in mass media. "Reality" television shows like NBC's *Unsolved Mysteries*, syndicated newsmagazines such as *Hard Copy* and *A Current Affair*, and dedicated UFO programs like *Sightings* and *Encounters* regularly feature UFO accounts. Even fictional series like *The X-Files* incorporate UFO beliefs into their storylines. Numerous individuals claiming to be abductees have appeared on popular talk shows, including those hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Montel Williams, Maury Povich, Phil Donahue, Sally Jesse Raphael, Jenny Jones, and Larry King. A significant event mentioned is Larry King's October 1994 special on UFO abductions and government cover-ups, titled *UFO Coverup: Live From Area 51*. The 1993 movie *Fire in the Sky*, based on the Travis Walton abduction, is also noted as a hit. The article anticipates that attention to UFO contact will grow with the publication of John E. Mack's book *Abduction*, a Harvard psychiatrist who became convinced of the reality of UFO abductions and founded the Program for Extraordinary Experience Research (PEER).

Researchers of popular culture are encouraged to study the UFO contact movement due to its strong ties to the science fiction genre, which has shaped public ideas about extraterrestrial life.

Kenneth Arnold and the Birth of the 'Flying Saucer'

The article details the pivotal Kenneth Arnold sighting on June 24, 1947. Arnold, a pilot, observed nine peculiar crafts near Mount Rainier, Washington. These objects were described as having wings but no tails, one being crescent-shaped and others flat like pie pans. They flew at an estimated speed of 1,600 miles per hour, which was significantly faster than contemporary aircraft. Arnold's description of their flight as "like a saucer would if you skipped it across the water" led the press to coin the term "flying saucer." This event is credited with bringing UFOs into the "space age."

Historical Precedents and Shifting Explanations

While Arnold's sighting popularized the term, it was not the first report of strange aerial objects. The article notes Christopher Columbus's 1492 sighting of a strange light near the Bahamas. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, isolated reports of strange flying objects persisted. The 1800s saw a major UFO wave in the U.S., with reports of cigar-shaped objects. A notable sighting in November 1896 over Sacramento, California, involved a strange light with a dark body structure. At the time, explanations often involved "secret inventors" rather than extraterrestrials, and occupants were described as human-like. During World War II, fears arose that UFOs might be enemy secret weapons. However, after Arnold's sighting, the possibility of extraterrestrial origin gained traction.

George Adamski and the 'Contactee' Era

The 1950s saw a shift in public perception from invasion fears to the idea of benevolent aliens, partly influenced by films like *The Day the Earth Stood Still*. George Adamski became the first prominent "contactee," claiming friendly interactions with beings from Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. His 1952 collaboration with Desmond Leslie, *Flying Saucers Have Landed*, detailed his experiences. Adamski, a Polish immigrant with a background in philosophy and astronomy, described a "space ship" similar to a dirigible in 1946. His most spectacular sighting involved 184 saucers. In 1952, he met with a being described as "from another world," who was about five feet six inches tall, with a tan complexion, brown hair, large grayish-green eyes, and wearing a chocolate-brown jumpsuit. This description became a model for subsequent contactees. Communication was telepathic, and the alien warned of Earth's nuclear testing dangers. Adamski's subsequent books, *Inside the Space Ships*, introduced named aliens like "Orthon," "Firkon," and "Ramu," who spoke English and claimed to live on Earth. Adamski's narrative included a saucer ride to a mother ship where he met Venusian beings.

Adamski's "space brothers" espoused a philosophy with Christian symbolism, suggesting Jesus was an alien and fallen angels were universal criminals. His final book, *Flying Saucers Farewell*, interpreted Biblical passages as references to alien spacecraft.

Other Contactees and the Decline of the Era

Following Adamski, numerous other contactees emerged, including Howard Menger, Gabriel Green, George Van Tassel, and Dr. Frank Stranges. Menger described a space woman with shimmering skin and seamless clothing. Green ran for president on the advice of his "space brothers." Van Tassel organized UFO conferences, and Stranges claimed a meeting with a Venusian named Val Thor. The "glory days" for contactees waned in the late 1960s as space exploration advanced, making claims of cities on Mars and Venus seem less plausible. Adamski's account of seeing Earth as a ball of white light from orbit was challenged by the space program.

Despite the decline, some contactee groups persisted. George King founded The Aetherius Society in 1955, channeling "Cosmic Masters." The Unarius Society, founded by Ruth and Ernest Norman in the late sixties, believed Ruth was a "supreme spiritual being" named "Uriel" who had incarnated on Earth multiple times, with members undergoing past-life regression.

The Rise of the 'Abductee'

Starting in the late 1960s, UFO occupant reports underwent a drastic change. The focus shifted from willing spiritual encounters to claims of being kidnapped by inhuman alien creatures, giving rise to the "abductee" label. A typical abduction account involves seeing a strange object, experiencing "missing time" (a period of unaccounted-for hours), and recalling the event under hypnosis. During hypnosis, victims often describe being taken aboard a ship and subjected to physical examinations by aliens, with memory of the event often erased by the aliens or as a result of trauma.

The Betty and Barney Hill Case

The Betty and Barney Hill case in September 1961 is presented as the prototype for abduction accounts. While driving, they noticed a "white star" following their car. After stopping, Barney observed the object descend, revealing figures in uniforms. Fearing capture, they panicked and found themselves further down the road, realizing hours had passed. Betty experienced nightmares about strange faces and medical examinations, leading them to seek help from psychiatrist Dr. Benjamin Simon. Under hypnosis, they recounted being taken aboard a landed flying saucer. Barney described the beings as having large craniums, grayish-metallic skin, and large eyes. Betty detailed examinations involving instruments, hair pulling, skin scrapings, and nail clippings. She conversed with an alien leader who produced a "star map." Dr. Simon remained skeptical, suggesting a shared delusion, but collaborated with the Hills and journalist John Fuller on the best-selling book *The Interrupted Journey: Two Lost Hours Aboard a Flying Saucer*. The case highlighted the importance of amnesia and "missing time" in abduction narratives.

Defining Alien Appearance

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, a "consensus" began to form regarding alien appearance, though the article notes that a lack of consensus has historically been an argument against the reality of UFOs. While contactees often reported tall, blond, humanoid beings, other sightings exhibited significant diversity. The article mentions a 1963 sighting in England of an oval-shaped object from which a "human-sized black figure, headless, with webbed feet and wings" emerged.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article consistently emphasizes the influence of popular culture, particularly science fiction and mass media, on the development and perception of UFO phenomena. It highlights the shift in narratives from benevolent contact to frightening abductions and explores how these stories are shaped and disseminated. The editorial stance appears to be one of historical and sociological analysis, examining the UFO contact movement as a cultural phenomenon rather than definitively asserting or denying the reality of UFOs. The article focuses on the *stories* people tell and how they evolve, linking them to broader cultural contexts and media trends.

This document, comprising pages 82 through 90 of 'Studies in Popular Culture', delves into the evolving narratives and research surrounding UFO occupants and abductions. The content primarily focuses on the shift in how aliens are described in reports and the theories developed by UFO researchers, particularly in the United States.

Evolution of Alien Descriptions

The article begins by illustrating the vast diversity in early UFO occupant reports, citing examples from the 1970s. These included descriptions ranging from bat-like creatures and beings with glowing red eyes to tall creatures with claw-like hands and humanoids with flipper feet. This wide variation, it is noted, historically damaged the credibility of UFO reports.

However, a significant shift occurred, particularly among American UFO researchers. Unlike their European counterparts who tend to relate UFO stories to folklore and personal needs of the witness, American researchers have largely pursued the theory that UFOs are objectively real visitors from other planets. This pursuit has led to an attempt to "force homogeneity" into reports of UFO occupants.

The Rise of the 'Grey' Alien

Most recently, American UFO research has heavily focused on a single alien type dubbed the "Grey." This stereotype, characterized by short stature, white or gray skin, a large head with huge cat-like eyes, a slit mouth, small nostrils, and thin, clawed limbs, has become ubiquitous in UFO literature, movies, and popular culture. The article notes its appearance in films like 'Close Encounters' and even in television sitcoms and commercials.

Key Researchers and Their Theories

Budd Hopkins and Abduction Research

The article identifies Budd Hopkins, a nationally recognized artist, as a key figure in fostering the notion that the Grey alien is responsible for UFO abductions. Hopkins' interest began with a UFO sighting in 1964. His research into "missing time" cases, often aided by hypnosis, led to his influential 1981 book, 'Missing Time: Documented Stories of People Kidnapped By UFOs And Then Returned With Their Memories Erased.' This work revolutionized the understanding of abductions by suggesting that victims might not remember the event itself.

Hopkins' work expanded the criteria for potential abduction victims, making any unexplained uneasiness or "missing time" grounds for suspicion. He documented cases like Steve Kilburn, who, under hypnosis, recalled being abducted and examined.

The 'Breeding Program' Theory

Further developing his theories, particularly in his second book, 'Intruders: The Incredible Visitations at Copley Woods,' Hopkins became convinced that abductions were part of an extraterrestrial breeding experiment. He focused on cases like Kathie Davis, who reported numerous abductions from childhood through adulthood, including gynecological examinations and the impregnation and subsequent removal of fetuses, leading to the creation of hybrid children.

Hopkins proposed a pattern for these abductions: starting in early childhood with sample-taking and examinations, followed by contacts extending through puberty, and involving sperm and ova samples, culminating in artificial insemination and fetus removal. He characterized the aliens as indifferent to the trauma inflicted, suggesting they were interested in "replenishing their own failing genetic stock."

David M. Jacobs and the Rape Analogy

David M. Jacobs, an Associate Professor of History, is presented as a colleague of Hopkins who equates UFO abductions with rape, emphasizing that abductees are victims requiring sensitivity and understanding.

The Shift to 'Experiencers'

In contrast to the more negative interpretations, a growing number of abductees report positive, almost spiritual encounters. These individuals, now often labeled "experiencers," have moved beyond initial fright to develop a sense of respect and even friendship with the aliens. This harks back to the "contactee" phenomenon of the 1950s, where individuals reported spiritual contact with "space brothers."

Betty Andreasson is cited as an example of an abductee with positive encounters, viewing her Grey abductors as "Guardian Angels" involved in a long-term genetics program to improve life on Earth.

John Salter, an academic, also reported positive experiences, noting beneficial side-effects from alleged "implants" such as improved skin tone and eyesight, and describing the aliens as "consistently gentle and considerate."

Divergent Views Among Researchers

This divergence has led to a split among UFO researchers. While many view the Greys as evil manipulators, a minority believes the abductors serve a higher purpose. Psychologists like Dr. Leo Sprinkle view aliens as "cosmic citizens" attempting to help Earth, while psychiatrist John Mack acknowledges the terrifying nature of abductions but also finds they can have a positive impact on personal transformation and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The article concludes by summarizing the evolution of UFO stories over four decades, from Kenneth Arnold's initial sighting to the complex abduction narratives of today. It notes the community's decision to focus on the "Gray" alien and the recent split between those who see them as evil manipulators and those who believe they serve a higher purpose. The author suggests that UFO groups, as a pop-culture-inspired religious movement, offer a unique opportunity to observe rapid evolution and change.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The central theme is the evolution and homogenization of UFO abduction narratives, particularly in American popular culture, driven by researchers like Budd Hopkins. The article contrasts the objective, scientific pursuit of UFO reality by many American researchers with a more folkloric or psychological interpretation prevalent in Europe. It also highlights the ongoing debate about the nature and intent of alien abductors, ranging from malevolent manipulators to benevolent caretakers or genetic engineers. The editorial stance appears to be observational and analytical, presenting the various theories and developments within the UFO research community without overtly endorsing any single viewpoint, though it clearly outlines the dominant trends and influential figures.