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 19
... establish a convincing and sustainable reality. Science fiction's alternative realities are created both in and through visual or verbal language: its imaginary worlds are initially formed in a manner identical to those of other genres ...
... establish a convincing and sustainable reality. Science fiction's alternative realities are created both in and through visual or verbal language: its imaginary worlds are initially formed in a manner identical to those of other genres ...
Page 24
... established within which readers might begin to locate themselves. Nevertheless, after a prolonged period of immersion in an unfamiliar world which does have specific rules by which it functions, some icons may become established, such ...
... established within which readers might begin to locate themselves. Nevertheless, after a prolonged period of immersion in an unfamiliar world which does have specific rules by which it functions, some icons may become established, such ...
Page 32
... establish the concrete nature of the world'.78 In fact, they do of course create a visual image, but it is mundane and, in that sense, unremarkable. However, neologisms in sf remind us that we must repeatedly renegotiate our ...
... establish the concrete nature of the world'.78 In fact, they do of course create a visual image, but it is mundane and, in that sense, unremarkable. However, neologisms in sf remind us that we must repeatedly renegotiate our ...
Page 50
... establish an idea of the general and historical aesthetics of television drama in contrast to the opportunities afforded to science fiction by these technical advances. LOCATING TELEVISION Broadcast television's most obvious feature ...
... establish an idea of the general and historical aesthetics of television drama in contrast to the opportunities afforded to science fiction by these technical advances. LOCATING TELEVISION Broadcast television's most obvious feature ...
Page 56
... established series of components, genres, and formats. Its segmentation and active use of narrative redundancy is a ... establish it more or less confidently. 65 The notion that the popularity of a genre holds clues 5 6 AMERICAN TV ...
... established series of components, genres, and formats. Its segmentation and active use of narrative redundancy is a ... establish it more or less confidently. 65 The notion that the popularity of a genre holds clues 5 6 AMERICAN TV ...
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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