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 8
... reference to Star Trek, but as there are many excellent books delving into origins of 'the franchise', really only the later series are considered here, along with the development and direction of this remarkable franchise. The ...
... reference to Star Trek, but as there are many excellent books delving into origins of 'the franchise', really only the later series are considered here, along with the development and direction of this remarkable franchise. The ...
Page 32
... reference to the empirical world), and internal (in the operative character of its code)'; sf uses the schism between 'the signified and the referent, concepts which are incompatible yet necessarily linked and taken for each other ...
... reference to the empirical world), and internal (in the operative character of its code)'; sf uses the schism between 'the signified and the referent, concepts which are incompatible yet necessarily linked and taken for each other ...
Page 36
... reference to Prometheus; the second leads to more modern concerns. Its framework and its themes still operate significantly today within sf, connecting us with more traditional literary pleasures of the past. In the Gothic mode, as ...
... reference to Prometheus; the second leads to more modern concerns. Its framework and its themes still operate significantly today within sf, connecting us with more traditional literary pleasures of the past. In the Gothic mode, as ...
Page 62
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Page 63
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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