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 v
... : The American West, Television and Televisuality The final frontier Creating a destiny Mise-en-scène and special effects Looking forwards 42 44 47 48 50 51 52 54 56 Television Locating television Repetition Contents.
... : The American West, Television and Televisuality The final frontier Creating a destiny Mise-en-scène and special effects Looking forwards 42 44 47 48 50 51 52 54 56 Television Locating television Repetition Contents.
Page 5
... frontier: aspects of these are examined here briefly as context and precursors to preoccupations prevalent in sf television narratives. Science fiction and the 'final frontier' of space offer an alternative progression to a potentially ...
... frontier: aspects of these are examined here briefly as context and precursors to preoccupations prevalent in sf television narratives. Science fiction and the 'final frontier' of space offer an alternative progression to a potentially ...
Page 6
... frontier myth in science fiction. He uses the original Star Wars trilogy as his focus, 12 but the television series Wild, Wild West had already made a provisional connection in the 1960s. However, convincing though Hellman's argument ...
... frontier myth in science fiction. He uses the original Star Wars trilogy as his focus, 12 but the television series Wild, Wild West had already made a provisional connection in the 1960s. However, convincing though Hellman's argument ...
Page 7
... frontier, the role of the Sublime and the forging of a national ideological identity in literature, art and moving images. Switching to the medium of television, it explores television's common narrative structures and its visual ...
... frontier, the role of the Sublime and the forging of a national ideological identity in literature, art and moving images. Switching to the medium of television, it explores television's common narrative structures and its visual ...
Page 39
... frontier, the. For. epic story of the forging of a new nation in the sublime western landscape, was central to the American arts. Jorge Luis Borges notes that whilst 'literary men seem to have neglected their epic duties, the epic has ...
... frontier, the. For. epic story of the forging of a new nation in the sublime western landscape, was central to the American arts. Jorge Luis Borges notes that whilst 'literary men seem to have neglected their epic duties, the epic has ...
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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