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The History of Science Fiction

The History of Science Fiction. The Beginning. Early 19 th century (1800s) A new curiosity Fantasy existed first Supernatural worlds (gods/demons) Mythical lands (Atlantis) Unattainable lands (the moon) Always written in past or present tense, not future. Cultural Changes.

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The History of Science Fiction

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  1. The History of Science Fiction

  2. The Beginning • Early 19th century (1800s) • A new curiosity • Fantasy existed first • Supernatural worlds (gods/demons) • Mythical lands (Atlantis) • Unattainable lands (the moon) • Always written in past or present tense, not future

  3. Cultural Changes • Transition from Dark Ages to High Middle Ages • Development of the plow • Invention of the horse collar • Invention of the printing press • Protestant Reformation • Spread of literacy • Question established authority • Scientific Revolution • New technologies • Exploration • Industrial Revolution • Great Britain • Swifter changes • Machines

  4. Results of Change • Fear related to • Consequences of changes • “Nightmares” ahead • Two groups • Pessimists • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein • H.G. Well’s War of the Worlds • Optimists • Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea

  5. Modern Ideas • Term “Science Fiction” not used until 1920s • Literature of possibility • Follows scientific discoveries • “Predicts” future scientific discoveries

  6. ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION an introduction to The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

  7. Aliens • Aliens are one of the central characteristics of the science-fiction genre. ~aliens coming to Earth, ~humans encountering aliens on space explorations ~sometimes the aliens are friendly, ~sometimes as mortal enemies.

  8. ROBOTS • Often have human versatility and appearance ~work alongside humans as equals ~evolve to become superior to and overcome humans ~search to become human ~artificial intelligence to learn from and grow from experiences not just from programming ~simulation of human expressions and emotions ~”robot” comes from the Czech word for a slave

  9. GENETICS • Control of human evolution ~genetic engineering to control gene patterns before birth ~disease and birth defect eradication ~manipulate human characteristics / traits ~cloning to save endangered species ~cloning for organ harvesting ~bionic humans ~replacement organs or prosthetics ~creation of the “super” human ~intelligence ~physical strength

  10. SPACE TRAVEL • Space travel is a common element of sci-fi ~humans wonder whether or not they're alone in the universe, ~what might happen if humans encounter other life forms. This also encompasses Space Colonization ~Earth over-population ~Terra forming – making other planets habitable for humans

  11. TIME TRAVEL • In scientific theory, time travel is possible based on potential technologies utilizing scientific knowledge. • In fiction, time travel poses many questions: ~time travel paradox, ~protagonists can glimpse the future or change events in the past.

  12. Futuristic Setting Or Alternate History • Science fiction novels are often placed in a • futuristic setting, • Other sci-fi novels feature alternate histories • ~world governments • ~honors (or not) cultural diversity • ~possible inter-stellar federations/alliances

  13. Advanced Technology • Early science fiction focused on the hard science, and the development of advanced technology, or creative ways to utilize existing technology. ~some traditional sci-fi technology that could be very real in the future ~computerized education ~global communication ~some science fiction writers have proven almost prophetic in predicting the rise of technology ~other have foreshadowed or outright predicted other pieces of technology.

  14. Dystopia • One common theme of many science fiction novels is a dystopia set sometime in the future. ~used to explore current social issues, ~revolves around technological misutilization ~DEFINITION: an imagined place where everything is unpleasant or environmentally degraded; involves a totalitarian government; the opposite of a utopia

  15. Exploration Of Popular Societal Or Cultural Issues: • Much of sci-fi attempts to explore popular societal or cultural issues ~ class struggles ~misuse of technology, ~a world destroyed by war; ~ a world destroyed by overuse; ~ a world in which the government controls everything; ~ a world in which genetic experimentation has gone terribly awry.

  16. Science Fiction Follows Scientific Rules: • Science fiction novels follow scientific rules, to some degree. • Fantasy (another genre) suspends scientific rules.

  17. Science Fiction Authors to Know an introduction to The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury

  18. Mary Shelley • Key work: Frankenstein • Trivia: first full-blown science fiction novel • Fiction to Fact: electric shock to restart heart transplanted organs

  19. Jules Verne • Key work: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea • Trivia: considered to be the founding father of modern science fiction • Fiction to Fact: rockets, submarines, fax machines

  20. H.G. Wells • Key work: War of the Worlds The Time Machine • Trivia: first science fiction writer to be a trained scientist; first to write about alien invasions • Fiction to Fact: atom bomb, genetic engineering

  21. George Orwell • Key Work: Animal Farm; Nineteen Eighty-Four • Trivia: wrote about political horrors; totalitarian dictatorships; “Big brother is watching you.” • Fiction to Fact: electronic spying; spin-doctors who create pseudo-news

  22. Issac Asimov • Key work: I, Robot • Trivia: had the ability to explain difficult concepts in simple, clear language • Fiction to Fact: robots in service to man, artificial intelligence, distance learning

  23. Arthur C. Clark • Key work: 2001: A Space Odyssey • Trivia: CBS’s expert commentator on the Apollo moon missions • Fiction to Fact: communication satellites, man’s destruction of earth

  24. Ray Bradbury • Key work: The Martian Chronicles; Fahrenheit 451 • Trivia: was actually anti-science and anti- technology • Fiction to Fact: earphones, TV as a replacement for reading, flat screen (wall) TV

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