Month: February 2016

What is science-fiction?

Posted on by Caleb Heine

In the last post I wrote, I stated that Star Wars isn’t science-fiction. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest reading it before reading this one. In that post, I stated the definition of science-fiction from Merriam-Webster. To sum up that definition, science-fiction is about technology and its effects on the characters and ultimately society. So science-fiction has nothing to do with space. It can definitely take place in space, but the setting of space doesn’t make something science-fiction. Think of some of the other major genres like comedy, drama, and romance. None of them are determined by a setting. So why should science-fiction be? (If you think fantasy is defined by its setting, I will be defining fantasy within the next few days in which I will further discuss Star Wars and its subgenre.) I, Robot, Looper, and Blade Runner are all science-fiction films but none of them are set in space. They are about artificial intelligence and time traveling and humanity’s relationship with those things. If you remove the androids from Blade Runner, there is nothing that they can be replaced with to tell the story the same. In order for a story to be science-fiction it has to have technology as the focus. Star Trek, which I referenced in my last post, is about how humanity uses technology to explore and better itself, it just happens to take place in space.

One of the comments I received asked if Iron Man was science-fiction because it featured technology but wasn’t set in space. So I’ve stated that space isn’t essential to science-fiction so that’s unimportant. Also Iron Man just isn’t science-fiction to begin with. It’s a superhero movie. That’s become its own genre in the past 15 years just like westerns were a major genre back in the mid-20th century (there is an entire other discussion about whether superhero movies will die out like the western). In that same comment, I was asked about the original movies on the sy-fy channel. Those movies are just awful in the most entertaining way but they are monster movies for the most part, a subgenre of horror. Very few are focused on technology, they just have technology in them. Not everything with technology is science-fiction.

If you’re wondering if something is science-fiction, ask yourself if the movie is about technology’s effect on the characters or society or does it just have cool gadgets in it. Are the characters building a robot? Is the guy falling in love with Siri? Has the main character just been recruited by an arcade game to be the last starfighter? If so, it’s probably science-fiction.

Star Wars isn’t science-fiction

Posted on by Caleb Heine

Judging by my classmates’ responses when I said this, most people would disagree with me. However, genre is a tricky thing and I think we like to categorize movies, shows, and books too simply. According to Merriam-Webster, science fiction is fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component. My argument is that Star Wars is not science-fiction but fantasy.

To help illustrate my point, I am going to pull from another famous series. Everyone can agree that Star Trek is science-fiction. Star Trek is about humanity in the centuries ahead endeavoring to explore the universe and create harmony between species. The focus of the series is on the technology, from warp drive to artificial intelligence, and its impact on how humanity has advanced. Warp drive advances humankind. Zefram Cochrane’s first warp flight in 2063, as portrayed in the movie Star Trek: First Contact, establishes the relationship between humans and other species. It is the moment that starts humanity’s journey to being a leader in the universe, our next step in space travel. A staple of science-fiction is its focus on the future and the characters of Star Trek are always focused on the advancement of humanity and other peaceful species within the Federation.

Star Wars has a similar setting to Star Trek as they both take place in space. However, place isn’t what defines science-fiction as the Merriam-Webster definition shows. It is defined by the technology. Star Wars is full of cool tech, x-wing Starfighters and lightsabers, but this technology is not the focus. Lightsabers are the coolest thing in Star Wars and recognizable even to those who have never watched the movies. But the movies aren’t about lightsabers and how they changed the galaxy. It is about mythology and spirituality. Our main characters are descended from a monk like order of sword-wielding wizards. The story of the Skywalkers is of prophecy fulfillment and learning to harness the magic in this galaxy known as the Force. These are the trappings of fantasy, not science-fiction. Not every story that takes place in space is science-fiction. The story of Star Trek is space. The story of Star Wars is the Force.

What Makes TV Shows Good #1

Posted on by Caleb Heine

 

A key component to dramatic television is comedic banter. I look at the great dramas out there and they have comedy in them, light moments to remind us of the characters’ humanity, that aid in the overall weight and drama of the show. I am currently five episodes into The West Wing and while it is definitely a drama, the episodes are frequently cut with office banter between the White House colleagues. Toby, one of the communication directors, is under scrutiny for the one stock he has that went from being worth $5000 to $125,000. He is looking at being crucified by the press, not a good thing for a head staffer, but C.J., the White House press secretary, cannot help but ask if he can loan her some money for lunch, she’s 125k short. These moments of humor are so important because they are real. Human lives are a mixture of all the genres we have on television, comedy and drama and horror and romance, yet so often in dramatic shows there is no humor at all. Producers seem to think that dramatic shows don’t need humorous banter, because it will lessen the drama. I don’t think Jack Bauer said a single light-hearted thing through 8 ½ seasons of singled-handedly saving America.

Yet Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and the rest of the team behind one of my favorite shows of all time, Band of Brothers, were able to find the balance between drama and humor. If you have not watched this miniseries before (shame on you), it follows Easy Company, a group of paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division, from their formation in 1942 to the end of the war. This dramatization of actual events and people shows much of the horror of WWII including the D-Day invasion and liberation of a concentration camp. This is an incredibly dramatic and moving show, however, it is ultimately about how a group of men became brothers. Within the death and the violence, the soldiers joke with each other about the wounds they have received and the officers they endured. A particularly humorous moment happens in the 7th episode during the company’s time at Bastogne. Amid being bombed by German artillery, senior members of the company explain the difference between being injured and being wounded to brand new recruits. They talk about all the members of the company who have been wounded, including First Sergeant Lipton who is standing quietly eating nearby. He was hit in Normandy by shrapnel in the groin which could have cut off his testicles. So on the sergeants says, “Hey, Lip how are those balls?” And Lip responds, “They’re fine. Thanks for asking.” It is such a light moment of banter, of breaking in the rookies within a tense episode where we watch several main characters (not the best term for real life people) either permanently maimed by artillery or killed.

Comedic banter is a beautiful thing. We banter throughout the day and even when our lives are dramatic. It’s hard for me to watch a drama without banter, it feels like the creators don’t know what real life is like.