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. |
From inside the book
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Page 4
... action-narrative: mise-en-scène has its own narrative too, and in sf it enjoys a particularly powerful function. Science fiction offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms, time travel, warp drives. Visual sf needs to ...
... action-narrative: mise-en-scène has its own narrative too, and in sf it enjoys a particularly powerful function. Science fiction offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms, time travel, warp drives. Visual sf needs to ...
Page 6
... action-narrative with which we are primarily concerned. Cinema offers spectacular mise-en-scène, but as we gaze mesmerised at that massive silver screen it is hard for us to work beyond the narrative: we are drawn into the diegesis and ...
... action-narrative with which we are primarily concerned. Cinema offers spectacular mise-en-scène, but as we gaze mesmerised at that massive silver screen it is hard for us to work beyond the narrative: we are drawn into the diegesis and ...
Page 19
... actions and incidents. In the s-f tale, a series of possible objects, possible actions, possible incidents (whose possibility is limited, finally, only by what is 19 SCIENCE FICTION.
... actions and incidents. In the s-f tale, a series of possible objects, possible actions, possible incidents (whose possibility is limited, finally, only by what is 19 SCIENCE FICTION.
Page 27
... actions, one that is 'based upon reasoning from natural laws, whether those happen to be empirically true or not'.56 Therefore, sf narratives notably create their own limitations; for instance, Federation vessels in the various Star ...
... actions, one that is 'based upon reasoning from natural laws, whether those happen to be empirically true or not'.56 Therefore, sf narratives notably create their own limitations; for instance, Federation vessels in the various Star ...
Page 55
... actions. Our technology forces us to live mythically.' Comparing television with ancient oral tribal traditions, McLuhan and Fiore suggest that 'we are back in an acoustic space ... action swirl around, whisking us through time 55 HISTORIES.
... actions. Our technology forces us to live mythically.' Comparing television with ancient oral tribal traditions, McLuhan and Fiore suggest that 'we are back in an acoustic space ... action swirl around, whisking us through time 55 HISTORIES.
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Common terms and phrases
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