history of the future session 2: the future in america science fiction in depression & war
TRANSCRIPT
History of the FutureHistory of the Future
Session 2:Session 2:The Future in AmericaThe Future in America
Science Fiction in Depression & Science Fiction in Depression & WarWar
The American FutureThe American Future
Three elements prominent in early 20Three elements prominent in early 20thth Century futurismCentury futurism– UtopianismUtopianism– InventionsInventions– Faith in ProgressFaith in Progress
These are inherited by science fictionThese are inherited by science fiction– Emerges in 1930s from pulp magazine genreEmerges in 1930s from pulp magazine genre
UtopianismUtopianism
Thomas More – Utopia, 1516Thomas More – Utopia, 1516– Meaning both “better place” and “no place”Meaning both “better place” and “no place”
Others followedOthers followed– Thomas Bacon – New Atlantis, 1627Thomas Bacon – New Atlantis, 1627– Saint-Simon, early 1800sSaint-Simon, early 1800s
Popular in Victorian BritainPopular in Victorian Britain– Many with a pastoral toneMany with a pastoral tone
American UtopiaAmerican Utopia
Concern for “perfect society” always thereConcern for “perfect society” always there– Pilgrims, US Constitution, etc.Pilgrims, US Constitution, etc.– Not always technological – Jefferson, etc.Not always technological – Jefferson, etc.
Many different commune movementsMany different commune movements– Shakers (celibate but industrious)Shakers (celibate but industrious)– Owenites (secular and industrial)Owenites (secular and industrial)– MormonsMormons
The Oneida CommunityThe Oneida Community
Founded in 1850s by the Perfectionists
Started pastoral, but forced into craft production.Communal living and selective breeding prove less enduring thanfine silverware. By 1880s has become corporation.
Faith in ProgressFaith in Progress
Always a moral elementAlways a moral element– Often with religious overtonesOften with religious overtones
Also material/technological elementAlso material/technological element– Frontier/manifest destinyFrontier/manifest destiny– Increasing industrial mightIncreasing industrial might
““Progressive Era” 1890s-1920sProgressive Era” 1890s-1920s– Political reformPolitical reform– Moral improvementMoral improvement
The Age of Systems - 1880s-1920sThe Age of Systems - 1880s-1920s
Rise of Professional EngineeringRise of Professional EngineeringSpread of Big BusinessSpread of Big Business– Coordination on huge scaleCoordination on huge scale– Formalization, specializationFormalization, specialization
Scientific ManagementScientific Management– Frederick W. TaylorFrederick W. Taylor– Henry GanttHenry Gantt
““Systems” technologySystems” technology– Gas, Electricity, TelephonesGas, Electricity, Telephones
Utopia Meets the FutureUtopia Meets the Future
Edward Bellamy “Looking Backward” Edward Bellamy “Looking Backward” (1888)(1888)– Year 2000 Year 2000 – Modest technological progressModest technological progress– Major social reorganizationMajor social reorganization
A host of imitators and plans followedA host of imitators and plans followed
Gillette – Razors & UtopiaGillette – Razors & Utopia
King Gillette invented King Gillette invented safety razor in 1901safety razor in 1901
Devoted himself to Devoted himself to promotion of “sky cities”promotion of “sky cities”– Huge, self contained Huge, self contained
skyscrapersskyscrapers
Killed himself in 1930sKilled himself in 1930s
TechnocracyTechnocracy
Meaning: Rule by ExpertsMeaning: Rule by Experts– Government of rational techniciansGovernment of rational technicians
Popular in the US, 1890s onwardPopular in the US, 1890s onward
Form of Progressive ideologyForm of Progressive ideology– Thorsten Veblen, The Engineers and the Thorsten Veblen, The Engineers and the
Price System, 1921Price System, 1921– Particular focus on rationalization of Particular focus on rationalization of
productionproduction
Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)
Inventor – 1093 patents to his nameInventor – 1093 patents to his name– Phonograph (1877)Phonograph (1877)– Practical electric light and generator (1879)Practical electric light and generator (1879)– Motion picture pioneerMotion picture pioneer
EntrepreneurEntrepreneur– Invented industrial research labInvented industrial research lab
Self promoterSelf promoter– Ubiquitous sage, expert on futureUbiquitous sage, expert on future
The “Edisonade”The “Edisonade”
Popular 1890s-1930sPopular 1890s-1930s
The Boy InventorThe Boy Inventor– Overcome perilsOvercome perils– Conquers new frontiersConquers new frontiers
Influence on stories of Influence on stories of HeinleinHeinlein– Competent, resourceful Competent, resourceful
capitalist herocapitalist hero– Engineering, problem Engineering, problem
solving, self reliantsolving, self reliant
Steam Man of the Prairies, 1868(has been called first American science fiction)
Tom SwiftTom Swift
Children’s series Children’s series 1910-19411910-1941
Inventor heroInventor hero
Many adventuresMany adventures
The Roaring 20sThe Roaring 20s
Capitalism triumphantCapitalism triumphant– Socialism and strikes of 1910 crushedSocialism and strikes of 1910 crushed– Stock market boomsStock market booms
Exciting new technologies & industriesExciting new technologies & industries– RadioRadio– CinemaCinema– FlightFlight– Mass production of automobilesMass production of automobiles– Rise of advertising industry, brandsRise of advertising industry, brands
Film InterludeFilm Interlude
Triumph of America (1933)Triumph of America (1933)– 1933 Chevrolet propaganda film1933 Chevrolet propaganda film
Technology = Progress = ScienceTechnology = Progress = Science
Technology is Big!Technology is Big!– Fills city blocksFills city blocks– Involves thousands of peopleInvolves thousands of people– Complex, intricate, heavyComplex, intricate, heavy
Big business is good for youBig business is good for you
ScientifictionScientifiction
Term coined by Hugo Term coined by Hugo Gernesback in 1924Gernesback in 1924– writer writer
(Ralph 124C 41+)(Ralph 124C 41+)– publisher (Modern publisher (Modern
Electrics, Science and Electrics, Science and invention)invention)
– amateur inventoramateur inventor
Amazing StoriesAmazing Stories– first SF magazinefirst SF magazine– published in 1926published in 1926
Pulp MagazinesPulp Magazines
Originated in 1880sOriginated in 1880s– ““pulp” – cheap and pulp” – cheap and
nasty papernasty paper– origin of mass market origin of mass market
publishingpublishing
Huge market for trashy Huge market for trashy fictionfictionFrom 1915 onward, From 1915 onward, tend to specializetend to specialize– DetectiveDetective– WesternWestern– HorrorHorror
Salacious mystery, 1937
The Great DepressionThe Great Depression
Stock market crash of 1929Stock market crash of 1929– Followed by long, slow economic collapseFollowed by long, slow economic collapse– Partial revival around 1936, collapse in 37Partial revival around 1936, collapse in 37
American progress faltersAmerican progress falters– GNP falls 23% (23% deflation)GNP falls 23% (23% deflation)– Unemployment exceeds 25%Unemployment exceeds 25%
Resurgence of technocratic thinkingResurgence of technocratic thinking– Many new schemes to fix problemsMany new schemes to fix problems
The New DealThe New Deal
Franklin Delano RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt
Government takes new role in economyGovernment takes new role in economy– Social Security AdministrationSocial Security Administration– Regulation in many industriesRegulation in many industries– WPA and other stimulus measures (TVA)WPA and other stimulus measures (TVA)
New legal protections for labor unionsNew legal protections for labor unions– Dramatic proliferation in 1930sDramatic proliferation in 1930s
Astounding Science FictionAstounding Science Fiction
Leading science fiction Leading science fiction magazinemagazine– Founded as “Astounding Founded as “Astounding
Stories of Super Science” Stories of Super Science” in 1930in 1930
– Commercially successful (2 Commercially successful (2 cents a word)cents a word)
Thrives during Thrives during DepressionDepression
1937 – John W. 1937 – John W. Campbell, Jr. becomes Campbell, Jr. becomes editoreditor
The “Golden Age”The “Golden Age”
Term given to 1938/9 to 1946Term given to 1938/9 to 1946– Isaac Asimov debuts 1939Isaac Asimov debuts 1939– Robert A. Heinlein debuts 1939Robert A. Heinlein debuts 1939– Also A E Van Vogt & Theodore SturgeonAlso A E Van Vogt & Theodore Sturgeon
Other regulars includeOther regulars include– L Ron Hubbard!L Ron Hubbard!– (In 1960s, Dune is published there) (In 1960s, Dune is published there)
Key Themes of the 1940sKey Themes of the 1940s
Atomic physics (Campbell’s Atomic physics (Campbell’s specialty)specialty)
Space travelSpace travel
Contact with aliensContact with aliens
Inventors (less than before)Inventors (less than before)
Pseudo sciencePseudo science
WarWar
Campbell’s PrinciplesCampbell’s Principles
No sexNo sex
Humanity is always Humanity is always smartestsmartest
America is always bestAmerica is always best
Technology can fix Technology can fix anythinganything
Space travel will Space travel will happenhappen
Science fiction can Science fiction can change the worldchange the world
Campbell’s StyleCampbell’s Style
Very hands onVery hands on– Worked closely with writers in developing ideasWorked closely with writers in developing ideas
Dogmatic editorial writerDogmatic editorial writer– Bombastic, quasi-racistBombastic, quasi-racist
Campbell wanted to see SF ideas made realCampbell wanted to see SF ideas made real– Dianetics (led to divorce)Dianetics (led to divorce)– General symbolicsGeneral symbolics– The “Dean Drive”The “Dean Drive”
Film InterludeFilm Interlude
““To New Horizons”To New Horizons”– 1940 General Motors propaganda film based 1940 General Motors propaganda film based
on its “World of 1960” exhibit at the 1940 on its “World of 1960” exhibit at the 1940 Worlds FairWorlds Fair
– Same year as Heinlein story “The Roads Must Same year as Heinlein story “The Roads Must Roll”Roll”