Haylie, Steven, and Sarah… LET’S FINISH THESE PRESENTATIONS! 

Intro. to Science Fiction - as a genre * Please have out your notebooks and a writing utensil.

Purpose of science fiction? “Science fiction allows us to understand and experience our past, present, and future in terms of an imagined future.”  Kathryn Cramer, The Ascent of Wonder (1994)

Many Definitions The “What If” genre Speculative fiction – stories / philosophical & literary Futuristic Impact of Technology and Science

Sci Fi - Fantasy Relationship with the principles of science. Grounded in a scientific basis. No scientific background. Magical and mythical / supernatural creatures exist. May actually happen – is possible Can never happen – no grounding in reality

Trending Components - Futuristic Settings Outer Space Alien Life-forms Discovery of new technologies Discovery of new Science impacting our life – the human element Time-Travel

20th Century Sci-Fi Examples Pulp Magazines Isaac Asimov (Robot Series) Hollywood and Science Fiction movies in the 30s “The Twilight Zone” Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse 5) Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) More negative towards technology More focused on consequences

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley Introduction Lecture

Brave New World Portrays a society that has been socially engineered for a mindless happiness. No need for a totalitarian state because everyone is so “amused” and entertained by sex and drugs. Technology drives the culture and takes away one’s humanity A critique of consumerism, technology worship, mass media hypnotism 3

Brave New World Human beings are treated like different model cars trundling off the Ford assembly line. Babies are bred in bottles for designated roles in society comparable The family is seen as unnecessary and revolting. 3

Genre: Dystopia Utopia: an ideal society possessing a perfect social and political system Dystopia: a society where the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror Often futuristic Often under the guise of being a utopia Often totalitarian 1

The Twilight Zone Number Twelve Looks Just Like You