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
Results 1-5 of 46
Page 9
... force. For Native Americans and the diverse ethnic peoples who share a role in the history of the USA, the long-standing institutions of the political establishment and its military forces represent something other than the honourable ...
... force. For Native Americans and the diverse ethnic peoples who share a role in the history of the USA, the long-standing institutions of the political establishment and its military forces represent something other than the honourable ...
Page 24
... Force in the Star Wars films (1977–1983, 1999–). Conversely, a perverted form of recognisable mundane cultural iconography can be used to shock just as effectively, since in an sf landscape it also becomes a form of estrangement. Little ...
... Force in the Star Wars films (1977–1983, 1999–). Conversely, a perverted form of recognisable mundane cultural iconography can be used to shock just as effectively, since in an sf landscape it also becomes a form of estrangement. Little ...
Page 27
... the seasons 5 and 6 bridging episode 'Equinox'. Here, the crew of another Federation ship lost in the Delta Quadrant is draining aliens of their life force to create a faster means of reaching home, but Janeway and her 27 SCIENCE FICTION.
... the seasons 5 and 6 bridging episode 'Equinox'. Here, the crew of another Federation ship lost in the Delta Quadrant is draining aliens of their life force to create a faster means of reaching home, but Janeway and her 27 SCIENCE FICTION.
Page 33
... forces and the chaos of the wilderness. He also makes clear that we can only describe with confidence what we see and what we know – or what we can imagine based on an extrapolation of what we know. Our seeing is a discursive act, and ...
... forces and the chaos of the wilderness. He also makes clear that we can only describe with confidence what we see and what we know – or what we can imagine based on an extrapolation of what we know. Our seeing is a discursive act, and ...
Page 55
... forces us to live mythically.' Comparing television with ancient oral tribal traditions, McLuhan and Fiore suggest that 'we are back in an acoustic space. We have begun again to structure the primordial feeling, the tribal emotions from ...
... forces us to live mythically.' Comparing television with ancient oral tribal traditions, McLuhan and Fiore suggest that 'we are back in an acoustic space. We have begun again to structure the primordial feeling, the tribal emotions from ...
Other editions - View all
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