Science Fiction as Social Criticism

1
Science Fiction as Social Criticism

• An Introduction

2
What is Science Fiction?

• Science fiction is a prose narrative that deals
  with a situation that could not happen in the
  world as we know it, but deals with it so that it
  appears scientifically plausible and realistic.
  (Millies, 1975)

3
Science fiction can be seen as

• a literary response to scientific change which
  can run the entire gamut of human experience.
  Science fiction, in other words, includes
  everything. (Isaac Asimov, 1971)

4
Science Fiction Versus Fantasy

• Science fiction is a form of fantasy.
• Science fiction requires some sort of scientific
  rational explanation
  
• Age of Reason phenomenon
• It must seem scientifically plausible

5
Is Science Fiction Pulp?

• Some is.
• Speculative Fiction (SF that is viewed as High,
  rather than Low art).
  
• There is a difference between a good book and a
  great literary work.
  
• What is it?

6
The Possibilities

• Mary Shelley explained her use of the genre as
  not being interested in merely weaving a series
  of supernatural terrors but to create a tale
  that affords a point of view to the imagination
  for the delineating of human passions more
  comprehensive and commanding than any which the
  ordinary relations of existing events can yield.

7
Science Fiction Roots

• How does the shift in paradigms that occurs with
  the rise of industrialization facilitate/create/pr
  edicate the birth of science fiction as a
  literary genre?

8
What is Social Criticism?

• Social criticism involves the empirical study of
  society combined with a reasoned critique of
  existing conditions.
  
• "The social scientist studying contemporary
  problems and the complex relationships among
  modern men knows that he can no longer discharge
  his social responsibilities by retreating from
  the world until more is known." (Transaction (now
  Society) magazine, 1963)

9
The Sociological Imagination

• C. Wright Mills- The sociological imagination
  enables its possessor to understand the larger
  historical scene in terms of its meaning for the
  inner life and the external career of a variety
  of individuals. It enables hi m to take into
  account how individuals, in the welter of their
  daily experience, often become falsely conscious
  of their social positions. Within that welter,
  the framework of modern society is sought, and
  within that framework the psychologies of a
  variety of men and women are formulated. By such
  means the personal uneasiness of individuals is
  focused upon explicit troubles and the
  indifference of publics is transformed into
  involvement with public issues. C. Wright Mills
  (1959)

10
Understanding the Sociological Imagination-C.
Wright Mills

• The sociological imagination enables us to grasp
  history and biography and the relations between
  the two within society.
  
• The idea that the individual can understand his
  own experience and gauge his own fate only by
  locating himself within his period, that he can
  know his own chances in life only by becoming
  aware of those of all individuals in his
  circumstances.

11
Te Social Scientist as Social Critic

• Social science can help articulate the value
  claims and suffering of ignored and powerless
  groups. There is an important role for some
  social researchers to play here --perhaps one far
  easier to carry out than discovering cause and
  effect knowledge that can be directly applied.
  (Herbert Gans and Howard Becker).
• "The function of social research, then is not
  simply to supply information useful in remedying
  problems already known, it serves to make the
  problems known." (Robert Merton)

12
Science Fiction as Social Criticism

• In some cases, the genre of science fiction is
  consciously used to critique society.
  
• Explicit social criticism ie. Thomas Moores
  Utopia

13
The Development of Science Fiction

• The term science fiction was not used to describe
  the genre for several years.
  
• Voyage Extraordinaire and voyage excentrique were
  early terms. Ie. Jules Verne writings between
  1850-1904)
  
• H.G. Wells work was referred to as scientific
  romances or scientific fanatasies (1895)
  
• Term science fiction appears in 1929.

14
Reputation

• Science fiction has long suffered from its
  reputation as pulp fiction.
  
• Space Operas- early SF stories, films and t.v.
  shows that follow the same conventions as other
  pulp work from the time period.
  
• Today, many significant works have entered the
  canons of great literature.
  
• Please share some examples.

15
The History of Science Fiction

• Looking back, one can classify many classic works
  as SF. Ie. Homers Odyssey, Platos Timaeus and
  other works (early Fourth Century BC), Thomas
  Moores Utopia (1515-1516), Francis Bacons The
  New Atlantis (1624), James Harringtons The
  Common Wealth of Oceana (1656), Jonathan Swifts
  Gullivers Travels (1726), Mary Shelleys
  Frankenstein (1818), Robert Louis Stevensons The
  Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1888).

16
Two Diverging Trends

• Jules Verne
• Focused on inventions, gadgets, little social
  content.

• H.G. Wells
• Concerned himself with social aspirations and us
  SF in the context of its influence on humanity.

17
Modern Science Fiction- Asimovs Four Periods

• 1) Nineteenth Century to early Twentieth
  Century
  
• 2) 1926-1938
• 3) 1938-1945
• 4) 1945- Present

18
Nineteenth to Early 20th Century

• Characterized by SF which is rather primitive
  because the concept of science fiction had been
  born, but the basis for the support of science
  fiction did not yet exist. Viewed as improbable
  and therefore trash.

19
1926-1938

• Is noted by the publication of the magazine
  Amazing Stories by Hugo Gernsback.
  
• Promoted idea that stories should be
  scientifically plausible and that logic and
  scientific consistency were key.
  
• More like Verne than Wells.
• Tended to be written by amateurs, rather than
  writers.
  

20
1938-1945 Early Modern SF

• Characterized by John W. Campbell editor of
  Astounding Science Fiction.
  
• Stressed scientific plausability
• Raised literary standards
• Broadened subject matter to politics, business,
  war, religion and philosophy.
  
• Originated idea of social science fiction with
  studies about how technology affects humankind.
  

21
1945-Present

• The dropping of the atomic bomb made SF a more
  potent reality.
  
• SF expands to incorporate a wide range of
  writings. Ie. Margaret Atwoods Handmaids Tale
  and The Blind Assassin to modern SF pulp fiction.

22
Major Themes In Science Fiction

• Predictions about the Future
• Aliens
• The Relationship between humans and science
• Journeys into the Unknown
• Social Criticism
• Thrillers
• A Mirror of Human Nature (Mans Inhumanity to
  man)
  
• The Evolution of Humans

23
Techniques

• Stock ideas- science fiction operates with a
  system of ideas that often build on each other.
  Ie. Totalitarianism, space travel, tensions
  between individualism and common good.
• Characterization- characters often represent
  ideas.
  
• Plots- the basic story.
• Extrapolation- SF extrapolates of predicts
  certain conditions on the basis of existing
  knowledge.
  
• Suspension of Disbelief- SF must establish an
  aura of realism by suspending the readers
  disbelief. Ie. Frank Herberts Dune features a
  quote from historical documents at the start of
  each chapter.

24
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Scientific- SF can be used to promote or
  challenge scientific ideas. Ie. Cyrano de
  Bergeracs A Voyage to the Moon (1656) promoted
  the idea that planets revolve around the sun and
  the world is made up of atoms. It also predicted
  that someday rockets may take us to outer space.
• You can evaluate the text in terms of the
  plausibility of the science presented.

25
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Literary- science fiction should be judged by the
  same standards as other literature. Is it well
  written? Entertaining? Is the plot well
  structured? Is the plot unified? Are the
  characters well rounded? Is the work consistent?
  Has it been well researched?

26
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Intellectual-
• Does it Spur the imagination?
• Does it stretch our minds?
• Does it serve as forum for the discussion of
  topics that plague mankind?
  
• Can it help us interpret our present world?
• Does it expand our cultural mythology?

27
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Sociological- SF often offers a dramatic form of
  social content. There are several major concerns
  of modern society reflected in Science fiction
  
• 1) The Possibility of the Destruction of the
  World
  
• 2) What happens to those who survive the
  destruction of the world
  
• 3) Ecological Devastation- Overpopulation,
  Starvation, Pollution
  
• 4) Thought Control
• 5) Rise of the Machines
• 6) Genetic Manipulation- the boundaries of
  Humanity

28
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Psychological- SF reflects the wishes, hopes,
  fears, inner stresses and tensions of an era.
  (H.L. Gold)
  
• Security, new frontiers, progress, superstition,
  pride, rebellions tendencies have all been
  important points to consider.
  

29
Evaluating Science Fiction

• Philosophical- Science fiction is an excellent
  forum in which to present philosophical issues.
  Ie. H.G. Wells (1896) uses The Island of Dr.
  Moreau to question how far science should go in
  interfering with nature. (One could draw similar
  parallels with movies like Gattaca)