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 vi
... Vietnam 125 The Green Berets 128 Film and television 131 Space: Above and Beyond 133 Colonialism 135 Genre: Science fiction or war? 137 Representation and character 138 Learning from military history 142 143 Defining moments ...
... Vietnam 125 The Green Berets 128 Film and television 131 Space: Above and Beyond 133 Colonialism 135 Genre: Science fiction or war? 137 Representation and character 138 Learning from military history 142 143 Defining moments ...
Page 9
... Vietnam, the portrayal of the US military officer has been fraught with difficulty, yet many sf series use the military as a basis for their explorations – the Star Trek series claim a non-militaristic stance but they clearly draw from ...
... Vietnam, the portrayal of the US military officer has been fraught with difficulty, yet many sf series use the military as a basis for their explorations – the Star Trek series claim a non-militaristic stance but they clearly draw from ...
Page 40
... Vietnam War and a growing cynicism towards politicians after Watergate could only ever eventually surface in Hollywood, and the Western, the apparently collective fundamental ideology of the USA made manifest, was a prime candidate for ...
... Vietnam War and a growing cynicism towards politicians after Watergate could only ever eventually surface in Hollywood, and the Western, the apparently collective fundamental ideology of the USA made manifest, was a prime candidate for ...
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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