Science Fiction and Reality - Article Example

Lecturer: Science fiction and Reality The Star Trek is a science fiction series that originates from the United s. It was created by Gene Roddenberry in 1966 and aired on NBC (National Broadcasting Company), an American broadcasting TV network. However, the film is currently owned by the CBS TV studios, and it is distributed under the Paramount home entertainment. The Star Trek is a series in history that reveals classic adventure drama. It began in 1964 on Start Trek TV series, but Roddenberry made it more sophisticated in 1966 (Roddenberry and Abrams 1966). After the pleasure from NBC to withdraw the show during the second season series, many changes took place. The campaigning began, and fans of the series demanded the series to be aired; thus the renewal of the film began in 1969 when the Paramount Television produced the film in the animated series. Roddenberry, the creator of the film used futuristic situations (social movement) as an analogy for addressing ethical and social issues such as warfare, slavery and prejudice. The Star Trek series narrates the tale of the starship enterprise crew and the mission of travelling to a place where no one has ever gone. The film featured the character known as Shatner William, as the captain and other characters including Scott, Nicholas and many others. The film attempts to reveal the effects of the upcoming technologies in the contemporary society. Star Trek series is a film that attempts to reveal the effect of forthcoming technology advancement on the earth. It reveals the way the telepresence as one of the technologies creates impacts in the society. The telepresence is a technology which allows an individual to control a ship from any remote area. The Star Trek film reveals the way some technological devices works. However, the film is dangerous when exposed to children because it might contribute to violence in society. The movie reveals scientific issues that are most hilarious. It reveals the interconnections between the science fiction and real life impact of the telepresence technology advancement that this technology has created since history. Moreover, many films during the Second World War including the Star Trek used scientific fiction genre in order to reveal the impact technology has created in the upcoming technologies (Leaver 56). Technology has inspired many teenagers to engage with science through viewing this film because it is associated with scientific issues. For instance, the Blade Runner, which uses digital photography and the zoom button, is an indication of the way technology is flourishing in the society. The tailored branding and film revealed in the televisions seem far-fetched, but they are nowadays everywhere in the society. The scientific facts revealed in the film are informative about science, but there are some compromises that have been made on being accurate and able to recount persuasive narratives. The Star Trek is one of the culturally prominent TV show and influential science novel in the TV series. The Star Trek franchise industry, which is CBS TV studio, is currently a multibillion industry that has contributed to the circulation of the film. Television is one the entertainment technology that has contributed to cultural influences in the contemporary society. Thus, the Star Trek contributed to the establishment of the market for science fiction revealed in the televisions. However, the animated Star Trek series became more common in the market; thus it opened new market for science fiction series such as the Family Guy and many others. Roddenberry in the Star Trek film has created a multi-ethnic group for the venture; thus revealing the way technology has contributed to cultural change in the society. The technology revealed in the article of Cranny-Francis, Anne "from extension to engagement: mapping the imaginary of wearable technology," Visual Communication is the use of personal computers (PC). The author gave PC imagery of wearable technology, but an example of virtual reality is that of cyberspace and the Internet. The Internet is one of the communication networks that allow people to chat with others via a long distance in the shortest time possible. The article reveals the metaphor of a wearable technology which is used to facilitate human engagement. The metaphor incorporates varied meaning, but it extends to explore the current construct of human technology, which is the PC (Cranny-Francis 363). It also includes the analogy of musicians and instruments used; thus expressing the recent technology as well as its purpose in the society. Although Cranny-Francis emphasizes on PC and the use of Internet as the recent human technology, he also includes other technologies such as the typewriter, which he considers as the main technological application commonly used in the 19th and 20th century for transforming work practices. The typewriter feminized applications but men rarely used the typewriters in their work. The author introduces the personal computers as a wearable imagery, which philosopher Michelle Doeff gave the imagery of thinking-in-images (Cranny-Francis 363). The thinking-in-images use narratives, analogical structures and graphics within knowledge to function. This imagery is manifested in varied modes, genre and media. However, they are also manifested in the narratives whereby the scientist constructs them in their work such as in art and popular media. The term wearable technology came into existence, and it was conjured with the virtual reality applications towards the beginning of the 21st century. Technology is used in everyday life, but people’s sickened reactions towards televisions and Internet have increased. This is due to the issues following the US bombing and other issues of technology; hence, it has made many people have negative attitudes towards them. The article reveals that these technologies have led to increased violence in the society because kids play or watch violence computer games or movies; hence they imitate the actors. Both movie and the article have some similarities and differences. First, both technologies revealed in the movie and the article play a significant role in the contemporary society. This is by enabling users to develop the sense or stimuli such as the feeling of being present in another location. The user’s actions or voice can be sensed through these devices and then transmitted to another location. This can be through chat videos; thus information can travel from both ways and allow the user to communicate with another individual in a remote location. For instance, when captain went to explore the remote areas, he was using the telepresence to communicate with others. Therefore, the telepresence and the Internet, which is used in the PC allows the user to communicate with other people in far distances or remote places. Both technologies play significant roles in the studies. The technologies play significant roles of facilitating communication; hence it enables one to understand the way technology is significant in helping users to get in touch with others. They also reduce travel in delivering the message, reduces environment effects and advances the life of employees; thus increasing their productivity. In case of travelling to far areas to meet with other people face to face, these technologies can help in making communication less costly. Therefore, it is significant to use telepresence and personal computers in sending information from one location to another. This is because they are cost beneficial and the visual aspects highly enhance communications; thus allowing facial expressions and body verbal interactions. The two devices allow human beings to experience the presence of being present in real time and real world locality. However, there are some differences in both film and the article. In the Star Trek film, the author of the screenplay relates the telepresence technology with the American culture as a society that has been influenced by social movement. The technology has contributed to social changes because of the linguistic expression. It has also contributed to increased violence, warfare and discrimination in the American society (Geraghty, 102). The technology relates to American culture because of contributing to the increased cynical culture and political consequences. For instance, the September 11 terrorist attacks in American are linked with scientific issues; thus some movies, which involve violence, are not suitable to children to watch them. This is because of the threat or terrorism issues that may cause in society. On the other hand, the article reveals that the introduction of the PC has some minor cultural significance. This includes the way the American people nowadays work and the way they transfer information from one place to another. The PC has enabled them to make work easier; thus increasing production. The fictional approach in the Star Trek film is inaccurate because the narrative of the film is just a fiction but not a reality. This makes the fictional approach of the film imprecise. Moreover, the telepresence technology talked about in the film is inaccurate in allowing the story line to continue. This is because the film ends when James Krik and the starship crew are pressed behind the service in order to come into rescue. There are varied effects that overshadow other vital elements in the Star Trek film; thus making it inaccurate. The movie has stunning effects that threaten the fiction story of the film; thus making it inaccurate to the viewers. However, in the article of Cranny-Francis, the author reveals the way the PC is a wearable technology; thus he paints vivid images about this technology. Hence, the engagement with this technology evokes a fantasy that acknowledges the artificiality of the machinery (Cranny-Francis 374). The argument of the way PC technology relies upon its engagement with human subject; thus the author reveals the way this technology is more self-conscious and self-reflective when using it. The screenwriter and his writings constructs a feeling of excitement or humor; thus making people desire watching the film. This is because the screenwriter wrote the film and packed it with fun actions. He gave it a clear title as an indication to the viewer of the film that they do not need to watch another fiction film. The author decided to include hilarity or fun actions and sex appeal in order to make the film highly appealing. He also included some popular elements in the film in order to influence the audience. The screenwriter made the film unwavering with the TV series. However, he advanced it than the real world technology, which became into existence after the movie. The producer of the film maintained the originality of the film but only altered the colors into brighter ones in order to reproduce the buoyancy of the film. He produced the view screen in a way that allows the projection of images; thus making the space environment clear to the viewers. In conclusion, the Star Trek film and the article of Cranny-Francis reveal the scientific fiction on the technologies as used in the two studies. Although the stories have some differences, they attempt to reveal the way technology plays significant roles in the contemporary society. Technology has some impacts in the society, but its help in making communication cheaper. Thus, the screenwriter in the Star Trek film made an effort of producing hilarious and exacting film that reveals the scientific fiction; thus identifying it from scientific realism. Moreover, the article reveals the way the PC technology can help people to complete various tasks. However, the two technologies have contributed to cultural influences and posed a threat in the current society. Work Cited Cranny-Francis, Anne. "From Extension to Engagement: Mapping the Imaginary of Wearable Technology." Visual Communication. 7.3 (2008): 363-382.Web. November 12, 2012. Geraghty, Lincoln. The Influence of Star Trek on Television, Film and Culture. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland, 2008. Print. Leaver, Tama. Artificial Culture: Identity, Technology, and Bodies. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print. Roddenberry, Gene (creator) and Abrams, Jeffrey (Producer). Star Trek: The Original Series. (film). Hollywood, Calif: Paramount Home Entertainment (Distributor), United States (Country of Origin), 1966 (Publication Date). Read More