Showcase 2026: The Devilish and Feminist Women of Cult Classic Sci-Fi Films
By Sophie Coker, Class of ’26
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 29, 2026) — Have you ever dreamt of a better version of your research project? Clearer, more elegant in its design, more undeniable in its conclusions. If you’ve seen The Substance, you know the warning hidden inside that dream — respect the balance.
Senior anthropology major Anna Souls is bringing supernatural elements to Showcase Day 2026 with a poster examining how science fiction films portray gender and women's experiences, focusing on three cult classics: Jennifer's Body, Under the Skin and The Substance.
For Souls, the genre of science fiction is uniquely suited to explore themes of feminism.
“Science fiction used to be a male-dominated genre, mostly because it focused on things like aliens, guns and spaceships — but contemporary films feel much more nuanced,” she said. “Directors can create fictional worlds that exaggerate real disparities to make them more visible.”
Her poster grew out of a lecture on gender and sex inequalities in science fiction. The senior anthropology seminar, taught by Sean Rafferty, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology, is dedicated to science fiction and how it relates to modern-day anthropology.
“It’s the kind of class and major that I think everyone should experience at least once to build that sense of empathy,” Souls said. “There’s so much going on in the world, and at the end of the day, it’s important to remember that everyone is in it together and has their own life experiences.”
An on-campus EMT with Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service, Souls’ anthropology studies extend far beyond research posters and class discussions. Having studied different cultures and backgrounds through courses like her senior seminar, she is better able to connect with patients and recognize systemic issues rather than individual failings.
“Learning about anthropology makes me feel glad to be human,” Souls said.
And sometimes, it takes a not-quite-human perspective to truly understand what it means to be human. From male abuse of women in Jennifer’s Body, to ageism on young women in media in The Substance, to learning what it’s like to be a human woman in Under the Skin, Souls explores themes of body image, sexual expectations and more through female aliens and monsters. Knowing that movies are especially accessible to peers, Souls wants people to think about the movies they watch from an analytical and cultural perspective.
“Feminism, women’s rights and self-expression are all ideas that have already been established in culture and history. But science fiction presents them in a different way, rather than just at a surface level,” Souls said. “These movies show that women are still not at a point in society where they're fully safe or culturally embraced.”
To learn more about why hot girls eat boys, join Souls and others at the fourth annual Showcase Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30. The daylong event will feature poster sessions, presentations, performances and exhibitions highlighting student research, scholarship and creative work across multiple disciplines.
UAlbany students, faculty and staff, as well as prospective students, alumni, community members and school groups, are invited to attend. The event is free and open to the public.