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 9
... issue of what it is to be human through the question of special/advanced abilities. These programmes deal with the associated ideas of identity, representation and questions of 'otherness' – all issues common to science fiction ...
... issue of what it is to be human through the question of special/advanced abilities. These programmes deal with the associated ideas of identity, representation and questions of 'otherness' – all issues common to science fiction ...
Page 10
... issues so clearly articulated by the warrior poetics of Space's McQueen reach an apotheosis in Commander Sinclair, Ambassador Delenn and Captain John Sheridan, and the final section of this book is devoted to this remarkable, ground ...
... issues so clearly articulated by the warrior poetics of Space's McQueen reach an apotheosis in Commander Sinclair, Ambassador Delenn and Captain John Sheridan, and the final section of this book is devoted to this remarkable, ground ...
Page 26
... issue of primary significance.52 Suvin's approach is chiefly structural and therefore he defines sf by its clearest patterned content: science. In English the word 'science' is strongly biased towards natural sciences rather than ...
... issue of primary significance.52 Suvin's approach is chiefly structural and therefore he defines sf by its clearest patterned content: science. In English the word 'science' is strongly biased towards natural sciences rather than ...
Page 28
... issues.58 The issues themselves are quite literally cast in an alien light: stripped of their everyday context they invite fresh consideration from a different perspective. In fantasy, the same moral values we prize in life mark out ...
... issues.58 The issues themselves are quite literally cast in an alien light: stripped of their everyday context they invite fresh consideration from a different perspective. In fantasy, the same moral values we prize in life mark out ...
Page 57
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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