This reading for me really summarize what I feel passionately makes a good science fiction story. Science fiction, to me, is primarily about human experiences, relationships, and concepts of morality, and how these interact with a scientifically or fantastically augmented reality. By imagining a world that is more technologically advanced or different from our current one we aren't just imagining that technology but how it effects the humans experiencing and interacting with it. While I agree with the reading the majority of the science fiction canon that explores these issues views it from a privileged, white, western perspective, I stand by my opinion that science fiction of anything is the genre that is the most centered on human experiences and moral frameworks.
I wrote down some physical notes in my notebook so I'll kind of transcribe them here. Firstly, this reading really opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking about science fiction, but it makes complete sense. I learned that sci-fi and fantasy content can create real change by portraying a world that is very different than our own.
Something I thought might be a paradox is that she says she doesn't believe in "art for art's sake" but rather that everything made is political. So if everything is political-- than what is "art for art's sake"? Does it exist??
Lastly, a quote I liked but am still sort of trying to understand (heh): "Quantum physics shows us that everything that can happen has and is happening". Woah?
First of all, I was not aware of the term Visionary Fiction, but this makes complete sense. The whole idea reminds me of an old piece of advice, such as, “picture it and you can achieve it.” In other words, if you want something to happen you have to first envision yourself there already. This is a key component to science fiction, and I think the imagination that it requires is useful in solving problems. This is because sometimes we need to think way out of the box to find a solution and science fiction provides a platform for this way of thinking. I really liked this quote, “Too often our intelligence as humans serves our hierarchical tendencies, and we tend to one-up ourselves to death.” Art is incredibly political. It has an agenda, even if on a subconscious level-- via ego of the artist and those who to gain to profit from it.
“Change comes from the bottom up not the top down; change is collective, communal, decentralized; change focuses on people and is relational”. Preach it!! It’s really clear that science fiction can be used as a method to promote change and find alternatives to the way things are.
This reading for me really summarize what I feel passionately makes a good science fiction story. Science fiction, to me, is primarily about human experiences, relationships, and concepts of morality, and how these interact with a scientifically or fantastically augmented reality. By imagining a world that is more technologically advanced or different from our current one we aren't just imagining that technology but how it effects the humans experiencing and interacting with it. While I agree with the reading the majority of the science fiction canon that explores these issues views it from a privileged, white, western perspective, I stand by my opinion that science fiction of anything is the genre that is the most centered on human experiences and moral frameworks.
ReplyDeleteI wrote down some physical notes in my notebook so I'll kind of transcribe them here.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, this reading really opened my eyes to an entirely new way of thinking about science fiction, but it makes complete sense. I learned that sci-fi and fantasy content can create real change by portraying a world that is very different than our own.
Something I thought might be a paradox is that she says she doesn't believe in "art for art's sake" but rather that everything made is political. So if everything is political-- than what is "art for art's sake"? Does it exist??
Lastly, a quote I liked but am still sort of trying to understand (heh):
"Quantum physics shows us that everything that can happen has and is happening".
Woah?
First of all, I was not aware of the term Visionary Fiction, but this makes complete sense. The whole idea reminds me of an old piece of advice, such as, “picture it and you can achieve it.” In other words, if you want something to happen you have to first envision yourself there already. This is a key component to science fiction, and I think the imagination that it requires is useful in solving problems. This is because sometimes we need to think way out of the box to find a solution and science fiction provides a platform for this way of thinking. I really liked this quote,
ReplyDelete“Too often our intelligence as humans serves our hierarchical tendencies, and we tend to one-up ourselves to death.” Art is incredibly political. It has an agenda, even if on a subconscious level-- via ego of the artist and those who to gain to profit from it.
“Change comes from the bottom up not the top down; change is collective, communal, decentralized; change focuses on people and is relational”. Preach it!! It’s really clear that science fiction can be used as a method to promote change and find alternatives to the way things are.