Is science fiction coming to an end as humanity further advances technology everyday? What will happen to modern society when science fiction comes to an end? In “The End of Science Fiction”, Lisel Mueller uses the literal devices of diction, figurative language, and sound as she looks back on the great achievements of mankind and stories from mythology to discuss the extent to which our world has changed and evolved, but not necessarily for the better.…
Technology is the base of a civilization. There are, of course, many things far more necessary than technology, but the great empires of the early common era relied greatly on the use of modern tools in their daily lives. Two well known civilizations that relied on the use of technology are the Han and Rome ; however, their views wavered greatly, and yet, were related at the same time. Both civilizations worked hard on advances in water technology. Rome , as apposed to the Han Dynasty, is more self centered in their inventions, and ultimately, focused more on beauty, while the Han went for the cheaper alternative.…
Isaac Asimov defines science fiction for us. He says, “Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that…
Despite being created in different political, social and cultural paradigms, a comparative study of Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s sci-fi cult film, ‘Blade Runner the Directors Cut’ reveals similar concerns and issues which are still relevant to a modern audience. Both Blade Runner and Frankenstein were written centuries apart, both being passed on Milton’s four century old epic poem, Milton’s Paradise Lost. This continuum of consideration highlights the continued significance of literature that examines ideas such as disruption and identity. By considering the commonalities and differences between the two texts, responders are able to gain an insight into the consequences of man overreaching, thus disrupting the chain of being and how technological progress and scientific development leads to a loss of identity and a collapse in the moral nature of humanity.…
In book “What If: Religious Themes in Science Fiction”; the second chapter, “The Primal Question: What Are We?” Mike Alsford talks about science fiction as anthropology and how he has grouped the understanding of human beings into four categories: Subjects; Agents; Contingent; and Relational/Social. Alsford uses a lot of science fiction TV; Movies; and novels references to explain his conclusion as to “What Are We.”…
Both Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade Runner explore the dehumanising effects of technology. Although the texts differ in context they connect through their exploration of transcendent societal concerns. A key theme explored in both texts is the dangers associated with unrestricted and dehumanising technology.…
Even novels written almost 200 years later, such as Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312, explore the same issue, but it’s not to exercise the reader’s personal definition of humanity.…
The blindness of one’s morality in the irresponsible pursuit of knowledge and power, and the consequential diminishment of our humanity that ensues is explored in both Frankenstein (1818) and Blade Runner (1982). These texts warn against the neglect of responsibility and the obsession with scientific endeavours. Despite different times, both Mary Shelley’s and Ridley Scott’s contexts represent cultural anxieties about the nature of progress, both underpinned by profound technological expansion and marked by rapid growth of the economic industrial landscape. The cautionary message is displayed in each text through the creation of strong characters and the use of a number of literary and cinematic techniques.…
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Blade Runner (directors cut, 1992) directed by Ridley Scott are both exposed to the continuing nature dominant paradigms presented in the 19th and 20th century. Mary Shelly and Ridley Scott challenge the dominant assumptions of the romantic and scientific paradigms, this ultimately challenges society’s understanding of humanity, and the concept of what makes someone human. Although 200 years separate these texts are both cautionary tales about the creation of life through science and technology, and both present similar ideas and perspectives on creation. Frankenstein and Blade runner both criticize the dangers of applying uncontrolled use of science and technology. These texts also question values and models of heroism through the characterization of the protagonists. Furthermore Frankenstein and Blade Runner critique humanity through the characterization of the created ‘monster’. This critique presents values of self-knowledge, repentance and the celebration of life.…
From prehistory to the 1500 CE, our ancestors have created technologies that we use today. These technologies have been building blocks that get more advanced throughout time and are still progressing with the inventions that we have today. Throughout history, people had to come up with new ways to making life easier to survive. Transportation, communication, and production are just a few different technologies that have advanced over time as seen in the Mesolithic Era, Hellenistic Era, and the Middle Ages.…
What I often find fascinates me about the science fiction genre is that there are no boundaries as to what ideas it can explore. Many Sci-fi films and books examine the idea of a future in which the human race has advanced exponentially, whereby flying cars and space-aged robots are now the norm.…
What does it mean to be human? Simply it means to make decisions not always based on logic or reason, or the decision is made based on emotion. This is an interesting question that is brought up in Ridley Scott’s movie Alien (1979). The crew of the Nostromo for the most part appears to be human, but through their actions it makes one wonder if they are actually humans or if they are simply robots. They have gone to such a point that human life has seemingly been devalued in order to complete the task at hand. Such concepts are also explored within T.J Matheson’s (1992) “Triumphant Technology and Minimal Man: The Technological Society, Science Fiction Films and Ridley Scott’s Alien” where he talks about the similar idea of a devalued human life by these for the most part robots. At this point one would have to wonder if there is any shred of humanity left in this crew.…
papers, letters specifically, as a form of communication to using cellular devices such as phones.…
What does it mean to be human? What makes who we are? What drives us? Could it be the desire of becoming better, faster, and stronger, perhaps? All throughout history, humans have been known to have advanced in their respective eras through planning and their own advancements in technology. Technology is one of the many things that people in the 21st century debate about, whether it’s good or bad, or even neutral. Why do so many disagree with the idea of becoming better through the advances in technology? The main the topic of becoming something more, something post-human, revolves around the “luddites” (artisans in the early nineteenth century who protested technology by destroying it) believe we’re “playing God.” What does it even mean to play God? Technology has taken us very far indeed, but we haven’t made anything so uncanny that will surely match God himself. If anything, we’ve been doing exactly what’s in our nature: grow, expand, nurture ourselves, and evolve. We can only do as much as the environment allows us; we only make what we can with what we have. The advances in technology today are just our own way of reaching another step in our evolutionary cycle, and we shall continue to move forward. We shall reach another step in human evolution, whether it’s mentally or physically; we know that we’ll be holding technology’s hand for now and forever more, because as it is, we’ve become dependent of it. Should we fear our future endeavors within the technological age? I’m ready to move up to a new level in my evolution, whether I’m wired in circuitry, a cyborg, or fully mechanical; it’s time to let go of those fears, of those demons holding us back. Our limits are only set by our own standards, our own hands, so if we keep moving forward, then our limit is not what the kind of humans we’re now, but ‘transhumanism.’…
In history, elder generations did not know What computer is and Why it so needed as it is now. But humans lived to survive and make their life better without IT technology. The ages of useful time spending. No computer, no video - no games and no waste of time. The electronic devices, gadgets were mostly and privilegedly used for military and scientific purposes. Humans used to read to find out answers in books spending time in libraries, enjoying arts in museums and acquiring knowledge through conversations with older generations, scholars, artists and explorers. People were actively involved in pragmatic exercises to be well prepared for challenges through life. Even hand practices, like craftsmanship, were required in school programs to give skills to hammer, sew, cook and etc.…