Imaginary faces: Aliens, monsters, and otherness

What do aliens look like? Do they have a face? This chapter is an exploration of ‘imaginary faces’ by unpacking a plethora of sources, from media studies to conspiracy theories, including cultural anthropology, as well as semiotic theory (sign-based theories of semiosis). The topos of the alien, thought of as a form of extraterrestrial life, has a long pedigree and an enigmatic status. This is a very complex and controversial subject, almost without limit. Today, the archetype of the alien has seen a reemergence through the widespread use of digital media and the massive proliferation of “conspiracy theories”. Such matters are at the forefront of discussion, arousing interest among experts and ordinary people alike. In some of these theories, the existence of extraterrestrial entities is supported, and the present, past, and future role of alleged “alien races” in the evolution of human beings is discussed. These accounts pay attention to the outward characteristics of extraterrestrials and their physical appearance, including facial features, to identify them and distinguish one from the other. We could, therefore, speak of a phenomenology of the alien which is traceable in contemporary conspiracy discourse at a crossroads between ufology, alternative history, anthropology of aliens, and personal accounts of “abduction experiences”.