Growing up, I think it’s fair to say that science fiction has played a role in everyone’s upbringing. Classics like Star Wars and The Matrix have inspired many to indulge and achieve many imaginative pieces of art while providing visual gold for all viewers.
SF, Sci–fi, or science fiction, call it what you like. But behind the lasers and the flashing lights, do you really know what aspects are required for a film to be classified as sci–fi? According to literaryterms.net, the science fiction genre is “a genre of fiction literature whose content is imaginative, but based on science”. Despite being correct, I found this answer vague and unconvincing so I Googled the crazy world of Sci-Fi and found a few nuggets of wisdom. Well, at least I think so.
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Did you know that the first science fiction novel dates back to 1800 years ago? According to Wikipedia, the first written text, considered to be the first science fiction novel, dates back to the 2nd century CE. This was during the time when myth and reality weren’t separated. Over time, the genre has not changed much other than the scientific accuracy of the newer movies. But besides from history what actually is Science fiction? Science fiction often depicts futuristic concepts involving many special effects and aspects such as advancements in science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, extra-terrestrial life, teleportation, mind control, interplanetary warfare, fictional worlds, alternative histories, and super intelligent computers. Many further sub-genres of science fiction fall into this including alien invasion and space opera. But let’s not focus on all of these many sub-genres otherwise, we’d be here all day. To develop a better understanding of the genre, I researched further.
I have listed already, the important aspects of science fiction but I have not discussed what they actually mean. The plots of sci–fi often create situations, different from that of today and the past while usually complying with a human element. This is the most common case for the texts of the genre but of course, not all the sci–fi texts fall under this. It is important that science fiction films contain relationships with the principles of science. This involves being solely based or partially based on laws and theories on the scientific understanding of present understanding. This is what separates science fiction from fantasy.
But enough talk on what the science fiction genre is. Would you be able to identify a sci-fi film if you saw one and how do texts conform and subvert this genre? And how do they do it to relate to the attitudes and values of when the texts were produced? Below are three science fiction texts that you might have heard of. I have annotated each one and processed how each one conforms and subverts the genre while playing into the context of its creation. Or at least I think I did.
District 9; a classic, is one film that conforms to this genre.
This 2009 gritty sci–fi thriller, directed by Neil Blomkamp is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the location of the apartheid. Although set in the near future, this film highlights the themes of apartheid and refugees through its unique plot and characters. The plot surrounds the events leading to discrimination of the aliens, nicknamed “prawns”, from the landing above the city and aliens, needing aid becoming refugees and being condensed into a slum refugee camp, excluded from society and looked down upon. Despite greatly conforming to the sci–fi genre, through its advanced alien technologies, huge spaceships, and of course ‘aliens’, its context travels far deeper than the plot itself.
Within today’s society, and even earlier including when this film was made, refugees are an ongoing worldwide issue. It coincides with racism and discrimination as people in today’s society tend to judge others based on race and physical appearance. District 9 took this idea as it is a common and important issue discussed and conveyed globally. They took this and created a film surrounding these ideologies as it provides audiences with a sense of what it’s like to be discriminated against and therefore many may question past opinions. Doesn’t seem like the common sci–fi theme, right? Don’t get me wrong, this film still strongly conforms to the science fiction genre adding metamorphosis to Wikus, the laughable and dim-witted main character as he transforms from a privileged white South African to a prawn (the name for the aliens, just to be clear) and looked down upon and hunted by the government for science while using highly advanced alien weaponry in high-suspense action sequences – it’s a bit of a handful, I know.
Interstellar; as smart as it is beautiful
The film, Interstellar released in 2014 provides a highly different approach to the genre than District 9. Christopher Nolan went all-out on this futuristic space exploration film and highlighted the major theme of climate change. As the world continues to indulge in fossil fuels and intensive agriculture, the fear and effects of climate change build. Is the sense of fear for the future and what needs to be done to save the planet, what makes people want to watch films? In this case, absolutely. Interstellar largely encompasses embarking on a journey to locate and colonize a new planet as Earth becomes uninhabitable due to these effects. This greatly builds and highlights society's fears of climate change and provides audiences with what needs to be done if our ways don’t change. Within this journey, the inclusion of black holes, space technology, new unexplored planets, and wormholes conform to the genre, while also explaining new scientific theories yet to be discovered or not yet truly understood. This film highly surrounds the ideas of the mysteries of the universe using current scientific understandings of gravity, causing characters' families on Earth to age faster than them around a black hole – Weird!
Throughout the film, however, new information surrounding plot aspects within the film creates many questions. Unlike many other sci–fi films, where the problem is highlighted in the introduction, interstellar continues to throw out questions such as how a worm whole suddenly appears to allow interdimensional travel to suitable worlds. and how does falling dust give coordinates to NASA’s secret launching facility? Sounds strange, right? For these reasons, interstellar subverts the genre and conforms to the mystery genre as all answers fall into place within the climax of the film. Interstellar also creates a more realistic approach than other science fiction texts using scientific theories such as the construction of the black hole to create a realistically portrayed film.
Rick and Morty; is common in the new generation, but maybe not so much in the older
This wacky, weird, and wonderful American sitcom, written by Ryan Ridley, Dan Gutman, and Jessica Gao takes an entirely different approach to the sci-fi genre. It both confirms and subverts to the genre in many ways while also keeping up with trends in society by commenting on current trends and referencing other films. Their episodes include titles such as rick-shank Redemption and total rickawl. They even created their own version of the purge and played Minecraft during series 3 episode 10. With its genius humor, often dark at times, this American comedy highly conforms to the science fiction genre through the Grandpa, Rick Sanchez – the smartest man in the universe – creating and using advanced technology to travel the universe, using a teleportation device, with his grandson, Morty. During their travels, they come across almost every aspect of the science fiction genre including planetary exploration, parallel universes, and of course, extra-terrestrial life.
However, it is rare to see sci-fi texts involving the themes of family as this one does. A large proportion of the TV series involves the interconnections between the family members of the Sanchez family and involves many relationship dramas between them, common with the drama texts. This includes divorces, get-back-together, and fights. Not only this but it’s set during the present day. It is rare for sci-fi texts to be set during the present and most commonly base themselves on aspects of the past and future. And, of course, don’t forget the comedy. This Science fiction sitcom has some of the most laughs out of any TV show. In fact, when watching, one may forget that what they’re watching is a science fiction over an animated comedy-drama.
But why would the writers include these themes that subvert the genre? I believe the answer stems from the views of current society and therefore the younger generations. The creators specifically targeted this audience by referencing current trends of the younger generations and using crude humor, more commonly conceived as funny by youths. Not only this but including family dramas etc. coincides and relates fondly with the hardships that are common in many teenagers’ lives. This makes Rick and Morty more engaging and relatable. And is where its popularity arises from.
Therefore, through District 9’s strong ideologies on discrimination of a different kind, Interstellar’s genius and terrifying views on the long-lasting, future effects of climate change, and Rick and Morty’s weird and wacky humor, the science fiction genre is clearly distinguished from others. I hope something was learned from this and that some of you at least found it somewhat entertaining. This draws me to my final question which I hope you now know the answer to; behind the lasers and the flashing lights, do you now know what aspects are required for a film to be classified as sci–fi?
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