American Science Fiction TV: Star Trek, Stargate and BeyondFrom "The Next Generation" and "The X-Files", to "Farscape" and "Enterprise", sci-fi television series in the US have multiplied since the 1980s. Jan Johnson-Smith shows how, in line with national political upheavals, this vibrant and perplexing genre set about expanding the myth of the Western frontier into deep space. She looks at the "sense of wonder" or sublime that infuses much Frontier art and science fiction, and traces a possible historical precedent to the genre in the fabulous and heroic journeys of the Classical epic. She discusses narrative styles and their influences, from the overarching narrative of "Babylon 5" to the episodic formula of "The Outer Limits", considers how experimental series such as "Twin Peaks" challenge conventional structures, and how and why sci-fi television has adopted new technologies. She also explores the juxtaposition of arcane language and technological jargon in modern American sci-fi television, revealing the extraordinarily alien, yet curiously familiar arena it creates. |
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Page vii
... Darkness and the Light Philosophical and narrative strategies Story arcs History Ideology History and science fiction as context Popular culture as context The confused citadel Foreshadowing Narrative complexity Sheridan and destiny ...
... Darkness and the Light Philosophical and narrative strategies Story arcs History Ideology History and science fiction as context Popular culture as context The confused citadel Foreshadowing Narrative complexity Sheridan and destiny ...
Page 9
... Dark Angel, The Visitor, The Sentineland Prey tackle the issue of what it is to be human through the question of special/advanced abilities. These programmes deal with the associated ideas of identity, representation and questions of ...
... Dark Angel, The Visitor, The Sentineland Prey tackle the issue of what it is to be human through the question of special/advanced abilities. These programmes deal with the associated ideas of identity, representation and questions of ...
Page 16
... Dark Skies (1996–1997) demonstrates, nor must it include spaceships and alien invaders as Prey (1998) proves – yet along with Earth: Final Conflict (1997–2002) and The War of the Worlds (1988–1990), these television series are ...
... Dark Skies (1996–1997) demonstrates, nor must it include spaceships and alien invaders as Prey (1998) proves – yet along with Earth: Final Conflict (1997–2002) and The War of the Worlds (1988–1990), these television series are ...
Page 30
... Darkness (1969) and Joanna Russ's tales of Alyx and The Female Man in the 1970s clearly out set their authors' agenda for equality. Russ says that one of the best things about science fiction is that: at least theoretically – it is a ...
... Darkness (1969) and Joanna Russ's tales of Alyx and The Female Man in the 1970s clearly out set their authors' agenda for equality. Russ says that one of the best things about science fiction is that: at least theoretically – it is a ...
Page 32
... Darkness is a clear example of this. The location for this story is the planet Winter, where the extreme climate means that even volcanoes are frozen in ice. Familiar phrases are transformed: 'Rome wasn't built in a day' becomes 'The ...
... Darkness is a clear example of this. The location for this story is the planet Winter, where the extreme climate means that even volcanoes are frozen in ice. Familiar phrases are transformed: 'Rome wasn't built in a day' becomes 'The ...
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action actually alien allows American ancient appears articulated associated audience Babylon become called Centauri challenge characters comes command concept concerns consider context continuity create crew cultural Dark Deep Space Delenn demonstrates diegesis Earth effect Enterprise epic episode equally established example existence experience exploration film final forces frontier future genre human idea identified ideology images individual issues John language later light lives London Maquis McQueen means military Minbari narrative nature Nine occurs offers original parallel past perhaps planet political potential present Press problem programmes question races reality reference remarkable says science fiction season sense Shadows Sheridan ship shows Sinclair Star Trek Stargate station story Sublime suggests television tells texts turn universe Vietnam visual Voyager Western whilst wormhole