Detailed and Sustained Analysis of the Science Fiction - Literature review Example

detailed and sustained analysis of the Science Fiction i. introduction The narrations related to science fiction are popular from a very long time. It is a highly illustrated and broad genre of fiction. The basic speculations are on current or future science or technology. There are many books, art, television, films, games, theater, and other media based on the plots of science fiction. Science fiction sometimes gets synonymous with the broader definition of speculative fiction. In organizational or marketing contexts, it is the encompassing creative stuff comprising of fantasy and horror; that incorporates the elements which are not available or accessible in reality1. ii. influence of science fiction The influence of science fiction is not limited to children. It has got huge impact ob adults too. This particular genre is different from fantasy. In case of science fiction the amount of possibilities are larger than a fantasy. The imaginary story creates such elements that are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature. These stories are written with the ingredients of entertainment and rationality about alternate possibilities. The plot uses the settings that are contrary to our day to day life. The setting is always in correspondence to the future. There is the use of alternative time lines. Sometimes the setting takes place in outer space. Some of the famous stories involved technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature2. Concepts including time travel or new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots, or of new and different political or social systems are all inspired by the latest developments related to physics and other sciences. All the stories involve in itself the discovery or application of new scientific principles3. In a way the science fictions are related to the literature of ideas. Ideology gets rooted in certain thoughts that arise more commonly than others. The variations take place in accordance to the diversified backgrounds and interests that prevail in different society. The roles of social scientists are thus very vital in the formation of an ideology. According to them, this phenomenon stands as an evidence of ideologies. The genre is the concept that gets channelised through particular ideologies. Ideologies with specified holding to assumptions structure the constructions of genre. The most popular ideas lead to dominant kind of ideologies and gets differentiated as radical, no matter what the content of their actual vision may be. Michel Foucault wrote that ideology is not the same thing as philosophy. Philosophy stands for a way of living life, while ideology is an almost ideal way of life for society. It is here that ideology paves way for different genres to grow under the social roof. As these are based on the issues that science claims might get possible so the creations are of great concern to the readers and the viewers. The influences are vivid and the popularity is rapid. These are the sources for new inventions and discoveries of real science. Though in a way may be are the concepts for the prevailing existence of science. The popularity thus is simultaneously related to the future platform of scientific discoveries and inventions. iii. relation between the genre and ideology The ideology as carried by science fiction is an organized collection of ideas. As ideology means a "science of ideas, same way the exploration with the ideas which are innovative with make believe attitude is an ideology for Science fiction. To see science fiction as an ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision. It has got the characteristic features of opting through several philosophical tendencies through the set of ideas proposed by the scientists of a society. The purpose of an ideology is to offer change in society through a normative thought process, and in case of the genre called science fiction the motivation for a more scientifically upgraded society is kept as the core theme Ideologies are structured systems of abstract thought as opposed to mere ideation and is applicable to public matters. The genres too act as the basic motivator in the same way. Genre are the standard concepts that are rooted in ideologies and gets central to politics. According to Damon Knight, "science fiction is what we point to when we say it"4. On the other hand , in the words of Vladimir Nabokov, ‘we are rigorous with our definitions, Shakespeare's play The Tempest would have to be termed science fiction’5. iv. practices related to science fiction According to Robert A. Heinlein, "a handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method."6 The idealogy of representing the world with a better future is specified well by the famous novel of the genre of science fiction, ‘The Time Machine’, by H.G.Wells. It was first published in 1895. Later on the novel got adapted into two theatrical films of the same name. The novel also explored two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. Figure 1 Time Machine as a ConceptSource7 Directly or indirectly, this particular genre was inspired by this works of fiction in all media. It is one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written. This novella is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. "Time Machine", is the specified term coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to such a vehicle. This was the most popular concept of the whole genre and for the first time got visual existence through a live teleplay broadcast on 25 January 1949 by the BBC. This particular programme was starred Russell Napier as the Time Traveller and Mary Donn as Weena. Though the play lacked recording yet left a great impact over the audiences. It was in 1978, that a low level TV version was made, with very unconvincing time-lapse images of building walls being de-constructed. The effects were not up to the mark with inexplicable geographic shifting from Los Angeles to Plymouth, Mass., and inland California. John this TV version was starred Beck as Neil Perry, with Whit Bissell as one of Perry's superiors in the plot. The 1960 a film was made on this concept. Figure 2 The Film by Simon WellsSource8 The same idea was again remade in 2002. This modern upgraded movie was starred by Guy Pearce as the Time Traveller, named as Alexander Hartdegen. This particular film bagged much popularity. It was film that was directed by Wells' great-grandson Simon Wells. The interpretations made by Simon Wells derived a more revised plot with extreme flow of ideas of paradoxes and changing the past. The film earned $56M before VHS/DVD sales. It was in the year1994, that an audio drama was published on CD by Alien Voices. This drama was starred by Leonard Nimoy as the Time Traveller; named as John and John de Lancie as David Philby. This drama had a time pan of two hours. As a matter of fact among all the stories inspiresd by the book, this particular version is more faithful to Wells's novella than either the 1960 movie or the 2002 movie. Latest in trend, is the 2008 version of Well’s ‘The Time Machine’ adopted by Alan Young. He gives a new dimension to the concept by reading it with new animated illustrations. v. exploration of the Time machine The contribution of H.G.Wells, in the genre of scientific fiction is really remarkable. He in himself came up as an institution with the ideology to see the world in a chronological manner with specification to time. The formation of various types of identity is a see through attempt in his book ‘The Time Machine’. He represented every class and community through his ideological approach in the book. The whole plot in itself a representation of Wells’ own socialist political views. The book was a breakthrough the contemporary anguish about industrial relations. The Time Machine is a scientific fiction, specifying an ideology in itself; was accepted everywhere. In the peripherical public domain the story had occupied the United States, Canada, and Australia, however could not make much impression over the European Union until January. Figure 3 Model of Time Machine in film9George Pál filmed The Time Machine in 1960. The whole film was an adventurous tale, suiting the audience of that particular age. The dominance of English both as a race and language has been shown when we find in the period of 802,701 A.D., the Eloi learn and speak broken English. As to check the gender suppression the women characters are not given much of a space. The ideology of 1960 was well demonstrated through this particular genre of scientific fictional film. The film was highly acclaimed as it could show the effects of time lapse sequences along with the photographic effects to show the world around the Time Traveller changing at breakneck speed as he travels through time. The 2002 version of ‘The Time Machine’ by Simon Wells used a design that was very reminiscent of the one in the Pál film. The difference was that this model was larger and was exclusively covered with brass construction. There was an additional touch of quartz or in general the glass material. The whole design resembles the imagination led by Wells' original book. It can be found as Time Traveller mentions his 'scientific papers on optics'. The film also was very much successful in giving the get up of feministic approach under modernism. The character of Weena though makes no appearance, yet her existence is made feel through the gaps in the psychological aspect of the main character. The incident where Hartdegen instead becomes involved with a female Eloi named Mara; tries to bring the contradictory elements of races and gender. Racial originality is well knitted in this film, through the presence of Eloi. Eloi have been preserved in the "stone language". This is represented as an identical existence to the English with the help of a computerized librarian in the ruins of a library. Racial differentiations are also represented by Morlocks. Morlocks are the community representing the race oppose to Enlish. These are much more fierce and agile, and the Time Traveller has a direct impact on the plot. VI. conclusion Lester Del Rey states that "there are no easily delineated limits to science fiction."10 The definition of science fiction for Author Mark C. Glassy is, ‘you don't know what it is, but you know it when you see it.’11 Forrest J. Ackerman used the term "sci-fi" at UCLA in 1954, and specified the genre as one on the major trends on the modern society12. With the change of ages the importance of scientific fictions are also getting the grip. It has been now represented as the mirror to the modern society, with respect to the narrations related to the issues of gender, class, age and race. The growth is such that the popularity of this genre is in turn will construct a now social niche for the modern living. There is again a new kind of interpretation might grow forming new ideological aspects that can stand more prominently in the modern society. References 1. Card, Orson Scott (1990). How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. Writer's Digest Books, 17. ISBN 0-89879-416-1. 2. Del Rey, Lester (1979). The World of Science Fiction: 1926-1976. Ballantine Books, 5. ISBN 0-345-25452-x. 3. Glassy, Mark C.. The Biology of Science Fiction Cinema. ISBN 0-7864-0998-3. 4. Knight, Damon Francis (1967). In Search of Wonder: Essays on Modern Science Fiction. Advent Publishing, Inc., pg xiii. ISBN 0911682317. 5. Heinlein, Robert A.; Cyril Kornbluth, Alfred Bester, and Robert Bloch (1959). "Science Fiction: Its Nature, Faults and Virtues". The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism, University of Chicago: Advent Publishers. 6. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, (2000) Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Read More