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 vii
... Story arcs History Ideology History and science fiction as context Popular culture as context The confused citadel Foreshadowing Narrative complexity Sheridan and destiny Different choices Order and structure Verbal and visual imagery ...
... Story arcs History Ideology History and science fiction as context Popular culture as context The confused citadel Foreshadowing Narrative complexity Sheridan and destiny Different choices Order and structure Verbal and visual imagery ...
Page 2
... stories no longer command the top news slot. If not exactly commonplace, they have become an accepted part of life. Alongside travel in real space has come the advent of the voyage through virtual space: the infinite digital realm of ...
... stories no longer command the top news slot. If not exactly commonplace, they have become an accepted part of life. Alongside travel in real space has come the advent of the voyage through virtual space: the infinite digital realm of ...
Page 4
... stories can emerge from more than the plotted action-narrative: mise-en-scène has its own narrative too, and in sf it enjoys a particularly powerful function. Science fiction offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms ...
... stories can emerge from more than the plotted action-narrative: mise-en-scène has its own narrative too, and in sf it enjoys a particularly powerful function. Science fiction offers novel concepts for consideration – alien life forms ...
Page 5
... story of the frontier, the 'Wild West'. Records of epic journeys, part genuine exploration and part flamboyant speculation, are central to the development of a national character and psyche. Repeated explorations of these adjusted ...
... story of the frontier, the 'Wild West'. Records of epic journeys, part genuine exploration and part flamboyant speculation, are central to the development of a national character and psyche. Repeated explorations of these adjusted ...
Page 6
... story and is a strong feature in sf television today. NEW IMAGES John Hellman has argued convincingly that writers and artists have found a new location for a free re-working of the frontier myth in science fiction. He uses the original ...
... story and is a strong feature in sf television today. NEW IMAGES John Hellman has argued convincingly that writers and artists have found a new location for a free re-working of the frontier myth in science fiction. He uses the original ...
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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