Deus in Machina: Popular Culture's Myth of the Machine

Rollin, Roger B. "Deus in Machina: Popular Culture's Myth of the Machine." Journal of American Culture 2 (Summer 1979): 297-308.

Argues that (Western, esp. American) "popular culture has begun to transform machines into archetypal heroes, villains, even gods, and gods, heroes, and villains into machines." Gives many examples from film and TV. Esp. useful for lesser-known works such as BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER and FUTURE COp, and for its discussion of how "The Cars Are the Stars" in recent films.