Science FictionScience Fiction- as a genre

Purpose of science fiction?Purpose of science fiction?“Science fiction allows us to

understand and experience our past, present, and future in terms of an imagined future.” 

Kathryn Cramer, The Ascent of Wonder (1994)

Many DefinitionsMany DefinitionsThe “What If” genreSpeculative fiction – stories /

philosophical & literaryFuturisticImpact of Technology and

Science

Sci Fi - FantasySci Fi - FantasyRelationship with the principles of science.Grounded in a scientific basis.

No scientific background.Magical and mythical / supernatural creatures exist.

May actually happen – is possible

Can never happen – no grounding in reality

ThemesThemesFuturistic SettingsOuter SpaceAlien Life-formsDiscovery of new technologiesDiscovery of new Science

impacting our life – the human element

Time-Travel

ThemesThemesHard Science, New Wave, Ecology,

Messianic/Religious, Dystopia/Utopia, Apocalypse, Alternate and Parallel Worlds, Time Travel, Time Warp, Lost Worlds, Immortality, Psionic Powers, Space Opera, Galactic Empires, Militaristic, Space Travel, Alien Beings, Computers, Automation, Cyberpunk, Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, Social Criticism, The Superhuman, Women in Science Fiction, Love and Sex, Detectives in Science Fiction, and Science Fantasy.

A few termsA few termsPsionics – using the mind to induce

paranormal phenomena; telepathy, telekinetics (used in Role-playing games)

Cyberpunk – postmodern, combining information-technology and cybernetics with collapse & disruption of society

Android – robot or synthetic organism designed to look and act like a human (Data from Star Trek)

Cyborg – a being with both biological and artificial (electronic, mechanical or robotic) parts (Terminator)

Robocop, 1987 (Cyborg)Robocop, 1987 (Cyborg)http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=clqK5OC3BWE

Literary HistoryLiterary HistoryUtopia 1516Gulliver’s Travels 1726Niels Klim 1741Frankenstein 1818Erewhon 1872Edgar Allan Poe, H. G. Wells, Jules Verne

2020thth Century CenturyPulp MagazinesIsaac Asimov (Robot Series)Hollywood and Science Fiction

movies in the 30sKurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse

5)Aldous Huxley (Brave New World)More negative towards

technologyMore focused on consequences

20th Century – the Stars!20th Century – the Stars! 1980s: Star Wars IV, 1977, 1999 http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/

vi562301209/ http://www.fancast.com/movies/Star-Wars%3A-

Episode-I---The-Phantom-Menace/11746/746693117/Star-Wars-Episode-I%3A-The-Phantom-Menace/videos

Star Trek, 1966 - http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/star-trek-the-original-series-the-lights-of-zetar/cb448b7a18c4dede73a0cb448b7a18c4dede73a0-319249712213?q=star+trek&FORM=VIRE5

Isaac Asimov – Robot Series Arthur C. Clarke (2001, A Space Odyssey) Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles) Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land)

TodayTodayDifficult reputationRegarded as pulpCommunity of dedicated fansConventions, internet, fan groupsCults (Douglas Adams A

Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)Literature?

Samuel Butler, 1835-1902Samuel Butler, 1835-1902

Erewhon, 1872

Samuel ButlerSamuel ButlerPhilosopher, satirist, novelist, artistCritic of established religious,

social, and scientific ideasShrewsbury, CambridgeSheep herder in New ZealandExplorerWaged war against the suppression

of original thoughts and the hypocrisies of conventions

Attempted tor efute Darwin’s theory the existence of the divine in nature

Mr Mr Heatherley'Heatherley's s Holiday:an Holiday:an Incident in Incident in Studio LifeStudio Life

1874,1874,Tate Tate Gallery Gallery

Questions - Questions - ErewhonErewhonRelate the story of Erewhon to

science fiction as a genre.Describe the population of Erewhon.Discuss their attitude to illness and

crime; explain what you think is the satire intended.

Discuss the description of death and statues; what is the author’s purpose?

Is Erewhon a utopia or dystopia? Explain.