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 5
... sense of wonder, an encounter with the Sublime, which we can locate in the classical tales. The sublime, that extraordinary sight which incapacitates our mental faculties through a combination of pleasure and fear, is closely associated ...
... sense of wonder, an encounter with the Sublime, which we can locate in the classical tales. The sublime, that extraordinary sight which incapacitates our mental faculties through a combination of pleasure and fear, is closely associated ...
Page 9
... senses, psychic and telekinetic powers and genetically advanced abilities – are investigated in borderline sf series like Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, Poltergeist: The Legacy, The X-Files and The Dead Zone. Whilst these ...
... senses, psychic and telekinetic powers and genetically advanced abilities – are investigated in borderline sf series like Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, Poltergeist: The Legacy, The X-Files and The Dead Zone. Whilst these ...
Page 20
... the narrative story with the parity or dominance of the visual experience creates the pleasures and awe of spectacle. Unusual experiences and extraordinary encounters can provoke either a sense 20 AMERICAN FICTION TV SCIENCE.
... the narrative story with the parity or dominance of the visual experience creates the pleasures and awe of spectacle. Unusual experiences and extraordinary encounters can provoke either a sense 20 AMERICAN FICTION TV SCIENCE.
Page 21
... sense of wonder, or if pushed further, an almost irrational fear, one often associated with the Sublime. This in turn further challenges our cognitive capacity, sometimes stalling it completely. Science fiction relies upon a careful ...
... sense of wonder, or if pushed further, an almost irrational fear, one often associated with the Sublime. This in turn further challenges our cognitive capacity, sometimes stalling it completely. Science fiction relies upon a careful ...
Page 24
... sense of the word); its aesthetic framework, when richly filled out, is just too complex.'41 Nevertheless, it is fair to say that on first appearances in sf stories just about everything is foreground and, as such, provides another ...
... sense of the word); its aesthetic framework, when richly filled out, is just too complex.'41 Nevertheless, it is fair to say that on first appearances in sf stories just about everything is foreground and, as such, provides another ...
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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