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 43
Page 1
... shows skyrocketed. As the elegiac Western genre rides into the sunset, science fiction is proving a seductive replacement. A handful of individual series have received detailed critical attention, in particular The X-Files and Star Trek ...
... shows skyrocketed. As the elegiac Western genre rides into the sunset, science fiction is proving a seductive replacement. A handful of individual series have received detailed critical attention, in particular The X-Files and Star Trek ...
Page 46
... show like fairground attractions, and the idea behind this was not new. Moving panoramic 'rolls' of western landscape had been created before: a fine example is Henry Lewis' Mammoth Panorama of the Mississippi River, on 45,000 square ...
... show like fairground attractions, and the idea behind this was not new. Moving panoramic 'rolls' of western landscape had been created before: a fine example is Henry Lewis' Mammoth Panorama of the Mississippi River, on 45,000 square ...
Page 47
... show', testament to a certain unwillingness to constrain their reverence for the 'essence of natural wonders'. 28 Advances in paint technologies paralleled the technologybased expansion of America. As new means of transportation and ...
... show', testament to a certain unwillingness to constrain their reverence for the 'essence of natural wonders'. 28 Advances in paint technologies paralleled the technologybased expansion of America. As new means of transportation and ...
Page 49
... shows, many influenced by cinema and made by film directors, were developed in the USA during the 1980s. Caldwell identifies a particular moment in television aesthetics and a distinctive movement in prime-time television practice, one ...
... shows, many influenced by cinema and made by film directors, were developed in the USA during the 1980s. Caldwell identifies a particular moment in television aesthetics and a distinctive movement in prime-time television practice, one ...
Page 53
... shows, and forming a mainstay of television schedules today. It is unusual for sf series to develop along the same lines, although the follow-up to the two self-contained series of V demonstrated this potential in 1984–1985, losing ...
... shows, and forming a mainstay of television schedules today. It is unusual for sf series to develop along the same lines, although the follow-up to the two self-contained series of V demonstrated this potential in 1984–1985, losing ...
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