Critical Analysis Of Popular Culture, Science Fiction, And World Politics
The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of the arguments presented by Jutta Weldes. In his Popular Culture, Science Fiction, and World Politics, Weldes explores the intertextual relations between popular culture, science fiction, and the affairs of world politics, and argues that they are intertwined. Thus, this paper will provide a brief summary of the key arguments presented, weaknesses and strengths of the arguments, and the relevance and/or important of the argument in relation to the key themes discussed in the course.
Weldes first provides examples of how some of the most popular science fiction movies are related to existing organizations or missions. He points out the pervasive connection between NASA and the series …show more content…
More specifically, his claim that popular culture helps to construct the reality of world politics for elites and the public alike and to produce consent to foreign policy and state action is well taken. The use of popular culture to reach the masses is one of the ways in which elites communicate their policies. For instance, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and his “bromance” relationship with Barack Obama had portrayed a particularly unique portrait of their relationship. For the average citizen who reads about their “bromance”, it presents a close relationship between the two leaders.
Moreover, Weldes’ analysis of the role that science fiction plays in accommodating radical thought and questioning is perhaps his strongest claim. If there is one thing that makes science fiction unique, it would be its ability to make its audience imagine of a different world – regardless of what that world looks like. As Weldes articulates, work of science fiction starts with what is known, and give a picture of what the imagined world would look like. With the examples of how science fiction has inspired individuals to pursue their work toward that dream, Weldes articulates his argument …show more content…
Through the use of words, images and ideas, political warfare is spread to the masses in ways that are memorable. Even the use of certain tunes can differential songs and give them certain meanings. Indeed, from the Scorpion’s Wind of Change in the 1990s, to the K’nan’s Wavin’ Flag during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the use of songs is one of the most popular ways of spreading messages to the masses. Yet, Weldes does not acknowledge the contributions of songs or other genres to the political discourses.
Weldes also tend to over emphasise the intertextual relationship between popular culture, science fiction and world politics. It sounds as if he is claiming that science fiction is “about contemporary politics, and world politics, and in rather straight forward.” This is disputable because while there can be a relationship between the two, science fiction cannot simply be just about contemporary politics. If that is the case, however, then all discourses or works of art would be classified as parts of world politics, in which case they would lose their unique nature beyond being part of the contemporary
Weldes first provides examples of how some of the most popular science fiction movies are related to existing organizations or missions. He points out the pervasive connection between NASA and the series …show more content…
More specifically, his claim that popular culture helps to construct the reality of world politics for elites and the public alike and to produce consent to foreign policy and state action is well taken. The use of popular culture to reach the masses is one of the ways in which elites communicate their policies. For instance, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and his “bromance” relationship with Barack Obama had portrayed a particularly unique portrait of their relationship. For the average citizen who reads about their “bromance”, it presents a close relationship between the two leaders.
Moreover, Weldes’ analysis of the role that science fiction plays in accommodating radical thought and questioning is perhaps his strongest claim. If there is one thing that makes science fiction unique, it would be its ability to make its audience imagine of a different world – regardless of what that world looks like. As Weldes articulates, work of science fiction starts with what is known, and give a picture of what the imagined world would look like. With the examples of how science fiction has inspired individuals to pursue their work toward that dream, Weldes articulates his argument …show more content…
Through the use of words, images and ideas, political warfare is spread to the masses in ways that are memorable. Even the use of certain tunes can differential songs and give them certain meanings. Indeed, from the Scorpion’s Wind of Change in the 1990s, to the K’nan’s Wavin’ Flag during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the use of songs is one of the most popular ways of spreading messages to the masses. Yet, Weldes does not acknowledge the contributions of songs or other genres to the political discourses.
Weldes also tend to over emphasise the intertextual relationship between popular culture, science fiction and world politics. It sounds as if he is claiming that science fiction is “about contemporary politics, and world politics, and in rather straight forward.” This is disputable because while there can be a relationship between the two, science fiction cannot simply be just about contemporary politics. If that is the case, however, then all discourses or works of art would be classified as parts of world politics, in which case they would lose their unique nature beyond being part of the contemporary