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 ix
... : Above and Beyond's TC McQueen' and was originally published in The Journal of American Culture (Vol. 21, No. 3, Fall 1998), 47–62. In memory of Mariko Hosono and George Johnson-Smith INTRODUCTION The Acknowledgements.
... : Above and Beyond's TC McQueen' and was originally published in The Journal of American Culture (Vol. 21, No. 3, Fall 1998), 47–62. In memory of Mariko Hosono and George Johnson-Smith INTRODUCTION The Acknowledgements.
Page 9
... McQueen in Space: Above and Beyond, a series whose investigations also touch upon a somewhat more thorny issue. Since the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, the portrayal of the US military officer has been fraught with difficulty, yet ...
... McQueen in Space: Above and Beyond, a series whose investigations also touch upon a somewhat more thorny issue. Since the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, the portrayal of the US military officer has been fraught with difficulty, yet ...
Page 10
... McQueen reach an apotheosis in Commander Sinclair, Ambassador Delenn and Captain John Sheridan, and the final section of this book is devoted to this remarkable, ground-breaking series. Perhaps the only programme to have ever truly ...
... McQueen reach an apotheosis in Commander Sinclair, Ambassador Delenn and Captain John Sheridan, and the final section of this book is devoted to this remarkable, ground-breaking series. Perhaps the only programme to have ever truly ...
Page 119
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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