Transcript Speculative Fiction

Speculative Fiction
Where are we headed, and why
are we in this handbasket?
Speculative Fiction
“Science fiction’s main goal is generally
not to predict the future, but to extrapolate
the present.”
-Heather V. Long
Speculative Fiction
 Speculates
as to what society may be like
in the future
 Reflects current social, cultural, or political
issues
 Often takes one specific aspect of society
and postulates what would happen if that
aspect continued or became more
prevalent
S.F. Must
 Be
set in the future
 Present a future that has our present as its
past
 Reflect a current attribute of our society
Types of S.F.
 Two
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Speculative Fiction sub-genres
Utopian/Dystopian
(post) apocalyptic
Two separate genres, but some elements of
each overlap
“topias”
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Speculative Fiction explores social and political structures
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Utopia
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Dystopia
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an ideal world
S.F. – shows author’s view of how we can achieve the world people
want
a nightmare world (utopian attempt gone wrong)
Choices/trends (often related to technology) have led to a
undesirable future
False Utopia
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Bait and switch tactic in which everything seems perfect on the
surface, but is actually not
Elements of dystopian society
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A Totalitarian government
Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.
Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
The natural world is banished and distrusted.
Citizens conform to uniform expectations.
Individuality is bad.
The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
(post)Apocalyptic
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Apocalyptic
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Dealing with the end of civilization due to a disaster
(man-made or environmental)
Nuclear war, weather/environment catastrophe,
plague
Post-apocalyptic
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Set in a world after an apocalypse
May be set immediately after – follow survivors
May be set years (10 – 100s) later – new civilization
“The Road” is post-apocalyptic
At its best
 At
its best, speculative fiction works as
social commentary. It offers an appraisal of
modern society (either its people, culture,
or politics) by speculating as to where we
will end up if
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we continue on our current path.
a particular philosophy takes root.
everything goes to crap.
the latest social or technological fad continues.
What it is not
 S.F.
= set in future
 Set in future ≠ S.F.
 Space
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ships, lasers, aliens = may be S.F.
Must have human(s) from Earth and reference
to past civilization from Earth.
The Key
 Whenever,
wherever the story is set, it
reflects and comments on current society