Why I love Science Fiction
I admit it, I'm a geek. This is not news to my friends. When I asked friends and family to be part of my wedding several of them asked if they would have to dress up as stormtroopers. (They didn't - we were much more subtle. We only played the Star Wars theme as we walked down the aisle after the ceremony. But anyway- there are much more interesting things to have people dress up as besides stormtroopers - not that I thought about it that much.)
And my original interest in Star Wars wasn't particularly sophisticated. It came from watching Episodes IV-VI in my formative years. But as an adult I have grown to appreciate lots of different kinds of science fiction movies, TV shows, and books.
The reputation of those of us who show up to the midnight openings of Star Wars movies, have read all of the Babylon Five Books and have been going through the early DVD's of Stargate SG-1 episode by episode can be less than complimentary. But I want to explain rational reasons that science ficition are worth being interested in.
I think of myself as a student of social sciences. What makes me so interested in science fiction is the way that it allows us to study human nature in fascinating ways.
What would happen if we started traveling long distances in space and discovered other kinds of beings? What makes us unique as human beings compared with the other races? What would we do if confronted with new ways of being? New technology? Would our interaction with other planets and societies bring out the best in us? Or the worst? What is the best of us?
What if instead of our solar system there were a completely different one? If humans live on other places would they act the same or differently?
The parallels between political situations on earth and those in science fiction are great ways of understanding our own conflicts. The battle between the Klingon and Earth in Star Trek is obvious as a parallel to the Cold War, but more recent ones have become even more sophisticated.
Personal and social battles are also fascinating to examine. If a small being like a worm can live for a long time and inhabit different bodies and different genders - what does that mean for our definition of gender or souls? Could two souls and beings inhabit the same body? What defines love, sex, couples for us - and is it different than we think?
We of course know that we would have to have a new way of traveling in order to get far enough to find other cultures. So hyperspace, stargates with worm holes, jumpgates and warp speed are some of the ways that different universes have dealt with this problem. Each one of these create different permutations of problems that have to be dealt with in ways that are often unexpected.
How do other places and beings deal with the idea of higher beings? How does exploring the cosmos change our perception of God?
As I read or watch science fiction, I am impressed with the unexpected turns of the stories. I think what makes it great is the way that all of the rules that usually have to apply to reality can get thrown out.
So that is why I love science fiction. Coming soon - my pet peeves about the genre.
And my original interest in Star Wars wasn't particularly sophisticated. It came from watching Episodes IV-VI in my formative years. But as an adult I have grown to appreciate lots of different kinds of science fiction movies, TV shows, and books.
The reputation of those of us who show up to the midnight openings of Star Wars movies, have read all of the Babylon Five Books and have been going through the early DVD's of Stargate SG-1 episode by episode can be less than complimentary. But I want to explain rational reasons that science ficition are worth being interested in.
I think of myself as a student of social sciences. What makes me so interested in science fiction is the way that it allows us to study human nature in fascinating ways.
What would happen if we started traveling long distances in space and discovered other kinds of beings? What makes us unique as human beings compared with the other races? What would we do if confronted with new ways of being? New technology? Would our interaction with other planets and societies bring out the best in us? Or the worst? What is the best of us?
What if instead of our solar system there were a completely different one? If humans live on other places would they act the same or differently?
The parallels between political situations on earth and those in science fiction are great ways of understanding our own conflicts. The battle between the Klingon and Earth in Star Trek is obvious as a parallel to the Cold War, but more recent ones have become even more sophisticated.
Personal and social battles are also fascinating to examine. If a small being like a worm can live for a long time and inhabit different bodies and different genders - what does that mean for our definition of gender or souls? Could two souls and beings inhabit the same body? What defines love, sex, couples for us - and is it different than we think?
We of course know that we would have to have a new way of traveling in order to get far enough to find other cultures. So hyperspace, stargates with worm holes, jumpgates and warp speed are some of the ways that different universes have dealt with this problem. Each one of these create different permutations of problems that have to be dealt with in ways that are often unexpected.
How do other places and beings deal with the idea of higher beings? How does exploring the cosmos change our perception of God?
As I read or watch science fiction, I am impressed with the unexpected turns of the stories. I think what makes it great is the way that all of the rules that usually have to apply to reality can get thrown out.
So that is why I love science fiction. Coming soon - my pet peeves about the genre.
posted by Portia | 8/27/2005 04:25:00 PM
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