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 85
Page 1
... imagery. American Science Fiction Television: 'Star Trek', 'Stargate' and Beyond offers a starting point for the correction of this extraordinary oversight. SCIENCE FICTION In 1948, the famous sf author and pulp Introduction.
... imagery. American Science Fiction Television: 'Star Trek', 'Stargate' and Beyond offers a starting point for the correction of this extraordinary oversight. SCIENCE FICTION In 1948, the famous sf author and pulp Introduction.
Page 2
... offers considerably more than Campbell and Bretnor hoped for. It is individualistic, progressive, technically and aesthetically innovative, scientifically secular, potent, humanist, democratic – even egalitarian: it is the ...
... offers considerably more than Campbell and Bretnor hoped for. It is individualistic, progressive, technically and aesthetically innovative, scientifically secular, potent, humanist, democratic – even egalitarian: it is the ...
Page 3
... offers a crucial combination of causes and effects specific to the 1980s; he identifies a crisis in American ... offer brilliant colours and dynamic motion to enhance their narratives: finally each picture can speak a thousand words ...
... offers a crucial combination of causes and effects specific to the 1980s; he identifies a crisis in American ... offer brilliant colours and dynamic motion to enhance their narratives: finally each picture can speak a thousand words ...
Page 4
... offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms, time travel, warp drives. Visual sf needs to manifest ... offer that which sf relies upon: an inversion of what Samuel Delany calls the 'mundane' (that which we would consider ...
... offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms, time travel, warp drives. Visual sf needs to manifest ... offer that which sf relies upon: an inversion of what Samuel Delany calls the 'mundane' (that which we would consider ...
Page 5
... offer an alternative progression to a potentially utopian future, one that has been firmly grasped by the numerous American film and television companies since the 1970s. Visions of the Wild West and the archetypal characters associated ...
... offer an alternative progression to a potentially utopian future, one that has been firmly grasped by the numerous American film and television companies since the 1970s. Visions of the Wild West and the archetypal characters associated ...
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