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 2
... present-day laboratories'.1 Almost thirty years later, Reginald Bretnor described sf as 'fiction based on rational speculation regarding the human experience of science and its resultant technologies'. 2 Modern American sf television ...
... present-day laboratories'.1 Almost thirty years later, Reginald Bretnor described sf as 'fiction based on rational speculation regarding the human experience of science and its resultant technologies'. 2 Modern American sf television ...
Page 10
... present for inspiration, but also to look backwards with a desire to rewrite the past – not unlike the Western. There is a clear fascination with those staples of sf: time travel, wormholes and parallel universes, subjects that ...
... present for inspiration, but also to look backwards with a desire to rewrite the past – not unlike the Western. There is a clear fascination with those staples of sf: time travel, wormholes and parallel universes, subjects that ...
Page 18
... present and future. Just as a self-reflexive text must refer by default to its conservative ancestry, so the most conservative text must also contain the capacity for self-reflexivity and ironic critique: the capacity is only recognised ...
... present and future. Just as a self-reflexive text must refer by default to its conservative ancestry, so the most conservative text must also contain the capacity for self-reflexivity and ironic critique: the capacity is only recognised ...
Page 23
... present'.35 In Terminal Identity (1993), Scott Bukatman suggests that sf primarily 'narrates the dissolution of the very ontological structures that we usually take for granted', and argues that the '“multiple mock futures” of science ...
... present'.35 In Terminal Identity (1993), Scott Bukatman suggests that sf primarily 'narrates the dissolution of the very ontological structures that we usually take for granted', and argues that the '“multiple mock futures” of science ...
Page 25
... present'43 and, in doing so, negates the effect of classical realism. THE NOVUM Alongside cognitive estrangement, Suvin identifies one other major structural component of sf: the narrative hegemony of a fictional innovation or novelty ...
... present'43 and, in doing so, negates the effect of classical realism. THE NOVUM Alongside cognitive estrangement, Suvin identifies one other major structural component of sf: the narrative hegemony of a fictional innovation or novelty ...
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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