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 21
... turn further challenges our cognitive capacity, sometimes stalling it completely. Science fiction relies upon a careful combination of these practices to achieve its break with mundane reality and in doing so creates a sense of ...
... turn further challenges our cognitive capacity, sometimes stalling it completely. Science fiction relies upon a careful combination of these practices to achieve its break with mundane reality and in doing so creates a sense of ...
Page 23
... turning on of a tap – must be specified and explained in sf stories. Samuel Delany asks in what other genre would a door not open, but dilate – much to fellow author Harlan Ellison's joy. Certainly as a naturalistic piece of fiction ...
... turning on of a tap – must be specified and explained in sf stories. Samuel Delany asks in what other genre would a door not open, but dilate – much to fellow author Harlan Ellison's joy. Certainly as a naturalistic piece of fiction ...
Page 36
... turn this has informed American science fiction. The film Blade Runner (1982) offers a neo-Gothic Los Angeles; John W. Campbell's novella 'Who Goes There?' (1938) was re-worked in film form as The Thing (From Another World) (1951) and ...
... turn this has informed American science fiction. The film Blade Runner (1982) offers a neo-Gothic Los Angeles; John W. Campbell's novella 'Who Goes There?' (1938) was re-worked in film form as The Thing (From Another World) (1951) and ...
Page 43
... turn of the century, Theodore Roosevelt spoke of the necessity not only to remember pioneering values, but also to develop them as fundamentals of American history. In short, the combination of nostalgia and political propaganda ensured ...
... turn of the century, Theodore Roosevelt spoke of the necessity not only to remember pioneering values, but also to develop them as fundamentals of American history. In short, the combination of nostalgia and political propaganda ensured ...
Page 46
... turning the West into an ideological destiny, and Yosemite into a magnificent picnic garden, artists like Albert Bierstadt and Frederick Church commenced 'redrawing' history. The massive works of artists emerging from the Rocky Mountain ...
... turning the West into an ideological destiny, and Yosemite into a magnificent picnic garden, artists like Albert Bierstadt and Frederick Church commenced 'redrawing' history. The massive works of artists emerging from the Rocky Mountain ...
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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