SCIENCE FICTION ELEMENTS ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION 1

SCIENCE FICTION ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION • 1. EVIDENCE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY may be alien or domestic • 2. FUTURE TIME SETTING may be alternate time setting or even past • 3. ALTERNATE LOCATION SETTING may be on another planet, may be under the oceans, may be another dimension of existence

ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION • 4. ALIENS may be on earth or other place, humans may have changed, or humans may be on an alien planet • 5. STRANGE POWERS often aliens have strong mysterious powers or sometimes humans now have new powers or senses ex. ESP • 6. SCIENCE IS IMPORTANT IN THE STORY SOMEHOW may refer to technology or understanding of the world

ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION • 7. PROTAGONIST ( HERO ) • 8. ANTAGONIST ( VILLAIN ) may be a being or beings or may be a force, sometimes it is a society’s rules, and sometimes human sometimes not • 9. PROBLEM the problem MUST be overcome • 10. RESOLUTION usually the protagonist solves the problem or its too big for anyone to solve

HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION • There’s much debate as to where Science Fiction originated. Many look to these works: Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) Sir Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis (1628) Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1817) • But the general consensus is that Jules Verne (A Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon ) is the “father of Science Fiction. ” • Most consider H. G. Wells (War of the Worlds, The Time Machine) the “father of modern Science Fiction. ”

HISTORY OF SCIENCE FICTION • Sci-fi pulp magazines became popular in the 1890 s and carried on for decades after. Often they were over-the-top with their sensationalism. • The pulp magazines kept science fiction alive, but lost the purpose. Modern science fiction authors have often used their material as a gateway to show apprehension towards the future of mankind. • Common themes in modern Science Fiction are: * Despite technological advancement, man is always going to be a cruel, petty creature. Perhaps mankind is getting crueler as technology progresses. * Mankind is becoming complacent - lazy - and eventually our own creations (robots) or outside forces (aliens) will easily overtake us. * Technological advancement will also encourage more strict system of government where free thought is eliminated. The system is above everything.