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
... and Beyond 133 Colonialism 135 Genre: Science fiction or war? 137 Representation and character 138 Learning from military history 142 143 Defining moments Predestination and free will Creating an ideological VI AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION TV.
... and Beyond 133 Colonialism 135 Genre: Science fiction or war? 137 Representation and character 138 Learning from military history 142 143 Defining moments Predestination and free will Creating an ideological VI AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION TV.
Page 5
... character and psyche. Repeated explorations of these adjusted, amended and renovated journeys litter the arts of every ... characters associated with it have much in common with those prevalent in the first few decades of American sf ...
... character and psyche. Repeated explorations of these adjusted, amended and renovated journeys litter the arts of every ... characters associated with it have much in common with those prevalent in the first few decades of American sf ...
Page 9
... character of Lt. Colonel T.C. 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 ...
... character of Lt. Colonel T.C. 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 ...
Page 31
... character/plot development – is to: denote the thereness of the world. SF writers also include such items in their ... characters from different cultures, eras and planets. Star Trek series generally avoid this problem by employing a ...
... character/plot development – is to: denote the thereness of the world. SF writers also include such items in their ... characters from different cultures, eras and planets. Star Trek series generally avoid this problem by employing a ...
Page 32
... internal (in the operative character of its code)'; sf uses the schism between 'the signified and the referent, concepts which are incompatible yet necessarily linked and taken for each other'. This produces 32 AMERICAN FICTION TV SCIENCE.
... internal (in the operative character of its code)'; sf uses the schism between 'the signified and the referent, concepts which are incompatible yet necessarily linked and taken for each other'. This produces 32 AMERICAN FICTION TV SCIENCE.
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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