mysterious alien artifacts in science fiction

One example is the Monolith in '2001: A Space Odyssey'. It's a large, black, rectangular object that appears at key moments in human evolution and space exploration, seemingly guiding or influencing events. Another is the Tesseract in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 'Avengers' series. It's a powerful cube - an alien artifact that contains an energy source and has the ability to open portals to other parts of the universe.

Mysterious alien artifacts can act as MacGuffins. In the 'Avengers' movies, the Tesseract is something that all the characters are either trying to obtain or protect. This causes conflict between different groups, like the Avengers and Loki. It also has the potential to change the balance of power in the universe, so its existence forces characters to take action. Moreover, in 'Stargate', the Stargate itself opens up a whole new world of exploration and adventure, constantly bringing new challenges and threats as teams travel through it.

The One Ring in 'The Lord of the Rings' (while it can be considered a work of high fantasy which has some science - fiction - like elements). It has the power to corrupt those who possess it and is central to the story's plot of saving Middle - earth from the forces of Sauron.

Yes, they usually are. Alien movies often involve elements like space exploration, advanced technology, and encounters with unknown species, which are typical of science fiction.

Alien is mainly considered science fiction. It often features advanced technology, space exploration, and extraterrestrial life.

In the 'Matrix' movies, the red pill and blue pill are significant artifacts. The red pill is used to show the truth of the Matrix, while the blue pill allows one to remain in the false reality, representing a choice between knowledge and ignorance.

Often as highly advanced or extremely primitive. Advanced alien enemies might have superior technology, like in 'Independence Day' where the aliens have powerful energy shields and destructive weapons. Primitive ones could be more like beasts, such as the Graboids in 'Tremors'.

In science fiction, alien enemies often serve as a powerful plot device. They can represent the unknown, the fear of the other. For example, in the movie 'Alien', the Xenomorph is a terrifying alien enemy. It has a unique life cycle and a menacing appearance that creates a sense of dread throughout the film.

In mainstream science fiction, there are no such vulgar depictions. Science fiction usually focuses on concepts like advanced technology, different cultures, and exploration. For example, in 'Ender's Game', the focus is on military strategy against an alien race in a more intellectual and ethical context.

Often, alien technology is used to drive the plot. In 'Ender's Game', the alien technology of the Formics is both a threat and a mystery. Their ships and weapons are so different from ours that it forces the human characters to think in new ways. It shows how science fiction uses alien technology to explore themes like warfare, survival, and the limits of human understanding.