Science Fiction

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• Science Fiction

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What is Science Fiction?

• Science fiction is a writing style which combines
  science and fiction.
• It is only limited by what we presently know
  about the basic physical laws of nature.
• It evolved as a response to fantasy.

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Sci Fi Authors Definitions

• The author Theodore Sturgeon said,
• "'A good science-fiction story is a story about
  human beings, with a human problem, and a human
  solution, which would not have happened at all
  without its science content'"

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• Sam Moskowitz, fan and biographer 
• "Science fiction is a brand of fantasy
  identifiable by the fact that it eases the
  'willing suspension of disbelief' on the part of
  its readers by utilizing an atmosphere of
  scientific credibility for its imaginative
  speculations in physical science, space, time,
  social science, and philosophy"

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• The first true science fiction novel was
  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
• She wrote about scientific practices and tried to
  persuade the reader that her story could actually
  happen.

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• Frankenstein was the first novel in English to
  deal with the possibility that science can create
  a monster that can destroy science, and possibly
  mankind.
• Mary Shelley did not wish the story to be
  considered "supernatural. She made the main
  character a scientist and his scientific efforts
  were highlighted.

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• The mood of the novel is a tale of terror, in
  plot a laboratory experiment gone awry.
• The blend of Gothic materials and science in this
  novel brought the tale of terror clearly into the
  stream of science fiction and also gave it a more
  credible base.
• If not the first science fiction novel,
  Frankenstein is at least the first novel that
  showed what a science fiction novel would be
  (James Gunn).

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• Remember Writers take scientific possibilities
  and develop them step-by-step from known data to
  form a story.

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What is Extrapolation?

• Extrapolation is when a writer takes a known
  scientific fact and imagines what might happen if
  certain events or circumstances evolve.
• For example
• 1. Man can build space shuttles.
• 2. Lets imagine, man can travel to faraway
  planets.

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Science Fiction VS. Fantasy

• In Science Fiction, there needs to be some
  possibility that the events could possibly
  happen.
• In Fantasy, the author can use far-fetched
  assumptions. ie unicorns, three-legged creatures
  etc.

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• Miriam Allen de Ford explains the difference
  between science fiction and fantasy "'Science
  fiction deals with improbable possibilities,
  fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (Aldiss
  26).

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Major Themes in Science Fiction

• Space travel to and from other planets
• (ie Star Wars, Star Trek)
• Time travel to the past and future
• (ie Back to the Future)
• Psychological/biological changes to man brought
  about by scientific changes
• (ie The Incredible Hulk, Spider Man)

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• Supernormal powers/talents
• (ie Superman, Spiderman, Batman)
• Science applied to human relations for
  constructive or destructive purposes
• (ie Weird Science, Frankenstein)
• Battle with alien life forms
• (ie Signs, The Day the Earth Stood Still,
  District 9)
• Alternate Universe
• (ie Star Wars)

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Plot Conventions of Science Fiction

• Examples of Story Ideas
• The Last Man/Woman on Earth
• The Robot
• The First Landing Story
• Time Travel
• The Alternate World
• The Lost Civilization

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• The Alien Encounter
• The Colonization of a New Planet
• The End of the World
• The Long Spaceship Voyage
• The Computer
• From the point of view of an alien

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Sci Fi in the Movies

• Even before talkies, science fiction made its
  mark on film
• A Trip to the Moon (1902) by the Frenchman
  Georges Melies
• Metropolis (1926) by the German Fritz Lang, the
  first classic science fiction film

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• In the 1930s several great classic films were
  produced
• Frankenstein (1931), with Boris Karloff, followed
  by endless sequels and remakes,
• Invisible Man (1933), starring Claude Rains, from
  the novel by H.G. Wells
• Things to Come (1936) from the screenplay by H.G.
  Wells and based on his novel The Shape of Things
  to Come. This is the first great sound picture in
  the field and the first film to show a utopian
  future that includes the promise of space flight.
  
• Two prominent serials of the era are Flash Gordon
  (1936) and Buck Rogers (1939).

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• HE FIFTIES B
• An estimated 500 feature films and shorts that
  can be classified science fiction were made
  between 1948 and 1962.
• Science fiction really became a popular cinematic
  genre after the atomic bomb was dropped on
  Hiroshima. This event prompted a rash of
  after-the-bomb and alien invasion films. 
• 1950sDestination Moon (1950), is a
  pseudodocumentary based on Robert A. Heinlein's
  juvenile novel Rocketship Galileo.
• The Thing (1951), based on John W. Campbell's
  short story "Who Goes There?," features James
  Arness as a fearsome, defrosted alien carrot the
  film was remade in 1982.

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Sci Fi Movies in the 60s

• Also in 1960 came The Time Machine, starring Rod
  Taylor, from the novel by H. G. Wells.  
• Stanley Kramer made another foray into science
  fiction in 1964 with Dr. Strangelove
• Love the Bomb. This dark comedic satire of
  nuclear war features Peter Sellars.  
• Fahrenheit 451 (1966) stars Oskar Werner in
  François Truffaut's film of the Ray Bradbury
  novel. 

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Sci Fi Movies in the 70s

• In 1977 the debut of Star Wars sparked a
  revitalization of science fiction.
• Due to the huge success of this film, the market
  for and interest in science fiction as film and
  as literature skyrocketed into the stratosphere
  again, rejuvenating and expanding the entire
  field.
• Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  and Return of the Jedi (1983) comprise the middle
  trilogy of a projected three-trilogy cycle of
  films by George Lucas. In the 2000s, Lucas
  revisited his successful series with 2 other

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Movies in the 80s

• Batman (1989) is a stylish telling of the story
  of the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton)
  unfortunately Jack Nicholson dominated as The
  Joker.
• The sequel Batman Returns is memorable for
  appearances by the Penquin (Danny DeVito) and
  Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
• Batman Forever features a new Caped Crusader (Val
  Kilmer), the debut of sidekick Robin and villains
  played by Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey.
• Batman and Robin (1997) stars George Clooney as
  Batman, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, and
  Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy. Alicia Silverstone
  debuts as Batgirl.

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• Blade Runner (1982) is Ridley Scott's stylish
  film of Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream
  of Electric Sheep? A director's cut (1992)
  clarified the nature of the film's major
  character.
• The Road Warrior (1982) is the second and best of
  the Mad Max films about a post-nuclear-holocaust
  world. 
• E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), another
  blockbuster from Steven Spielberg, was reissued
  with new footage for its 20th anniversary in
  2002. 
• The Terminator (1984) is a James Cameron film
  featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a killing
  machine of the future the sequel Terminator 2
  (1991) picks up where the first film left off. A
  third film, T3 Rise of the Machines, was
  released in 2003.

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Sci Fi Movies in the 90s

• Total Recall (1990), another Schwarzenegger
  vehicle, is loosely based on Philip K. Dick's
  short story, "We Can Remember It For You
  Wholesale."
• Edward Scissorhands (1993) is a Frankenstein
  take-off.
• Timecop (1994) became a television series as did
  Stargate (1994).
• Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was directed
  by and stars Kenneth Branaugh as Victor. Robert
  de Niro plays the Monster.
• Independence Day (1996), a wildly-patriotic film,
  also turned out to be eerily prophetic in the
  wake of 9/11.

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• Several major films came out in 1997
• Men in Black
• Contact, based on a novel by Carl Sagan
• Starship Troopers, based on the novel by Robert
  A. Heinlein.
• Face/Off, a fantasy thriller about stolen
  identities directed by John Woo

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Sci Fi Movies Today

• What are some famous science fiction movies in
  this decade?
• Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions
• New Star Wars Trilogy
• Spiderman
• Men in Black 12
• X-Men
• Planet of the Apes
• Resident Evil
• I, Robot
• Avatar
• War of the Worlds

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Why should we study Science Fiction?

• Entertaining
• Makes the audience wonder What If?
• Encourages creativity in writing and role-playing
• Introduces students to a new literary genre
• Teaches lessons about the value and dangers of
  advanced technology
• Enhances imagination