science fiction - as a genre. purpose of science fiction? “science fiction allows us to understand...
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Purpose of science fiction?Purpose of science fiction?“Science fiction allows us to
understand and experience our past, present, and future in terms of an imagined future.”
Kathryn Cramer, The Ascent of Wonder (1994)
Many DefinitionsMany DefinitionsThe “What If” genreSpeculative fiction – stories /
philosophical & literaryFuturisticImpact of Technology and
Science
Sci Fi - FantasySci Fi - FantasyRelationship with the principles of science.Grounded in a scientific basis.
No scientific background.Magical and mythical / supernatural creatures exist.
May actually happen – is possible
Can never happen – no grounding in reality
ThemesThemesFuturistic SettingsOuter SpaceAlien Life-formsDiscovery of new technologiesDiscovery of new Science
impacting our life – the human element
Time-Travel
ThemesThemesHard Science, New Wave, Ecology,
Messianic/Religious, Dystopia/Utopia, Apocalypse, Alternate and Parallel Worlds, Time Travel, Time Warp, Lost Worlds, Immortality, Psionic Powers, Space Opera, Galactic Empires, Militaristic, Space Travel, Alien Beings, Computers, Automation, Cyberpunk, Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, Social Criticism, The Superhuman, Women in Science Fiction, Love and Sex, Detectives in Science Fiction, and Science Fantasy.
A few termsA few termsPsionics – using the mind to induce
paranormal phenomena; telepathy, telekinetics (used in Role-playing games)
Cyberpunk – postmodern, combining information-technology and cybernetics with collapse & disruption of society
Android – robot or synthetic organism designed to look and act like a human (Data from Star Trek)
Cyborg – a being with both biological and artificial (electronic, mechanical or robotic) parts (Terminator)
Literary HistoryLiterary HistoryUtopia 1516Gulliver’s Travels 1726Niels Klim 1741Frankenstein 1818Erewhon 1872Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells, Jules Verne
2020thth Century CenturyPulp MagazinesIsaac Asimov (Robot Series)Hollywood and Science Fiction
movies in the 30sKurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse
5)Aldous Huxley (Brave New World)More negative towards
technologyMore focused on consequences
20th Century – the Stars!20th Century – the Stars! 1980s: Star Wars IV, 1977, 1999 http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/
vi562301209/ http://www.fancast.com/movies/Star-Wars%3A-
Episode-I---The-Phantom-Menace/11746/746693117/Star-Wars-Episode-I%3A-The-Phantom-Menace/videos
Star Trek, 1966 - http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/star-trek-the-original-series-the-lights-of-zetar/cb448b7a18c4dede73a0cb448b7a18c4dede73a0-319249712213?q=star+trek&FORM=VIRE5
Isaac Asimov – Robot Series Arthur C. Clarke (2001, A Space Odyssey) Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles) Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land)
TodayTodayDifficult reputationRegarded as pulpCommunity of dedicated fansConventions, internet, fan groupsCults (Douglas Adams A
Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)Literature?
Samuel ButlerSamuel ButlerPhilosopher, satirist, novelist, artistCritic of established religious,
social, and scientific ideasShrewsbury, CambridgeSheep herder in New ZealandExplorerWaged war against the suppression
of original thoughts and the hypocrisies of conventions
Attempted tor efute Darwin’s theory the existence of the divine in nature
Mr Mr Heatherley'Heatherley's s Holiday:an Holiday:an Incident in Incident in Studio LifeStudio Life
1874,1874,Tate Tate Gallery Gallery
Questions - Questions - ErewhonErewhonRelate the story of Erewhon to
science fiction as a genre.Describe the population of Erewhon.Discuss their attitude to illness and
crime; explain what you think is the satire intended.
Discuss the description of death and statues; what is the author’s purpose?
Is Erewhon a utopia or dystopia? Explain.