Enterprize Zones examines how the characters and technology in the Star Trek series affect what we understand our culture to be, how it represents the social order, and how it reproduces pleasure and pain in its televisual texts.
From the beginning in 1967, when the starship Enterprise first set off to seek out new civilizations, we have marveled at the wonders of the computers in "Star Trek". Inspired by the computers described in the popular TV series and its off shoots, Lois Gresh and Robert Weinberg discuss contemporary ideas about computers and their role in our lives. In fact, each of the "Star Trek" shows reflects a distinct mindset -- from the deep distrust of computers in the original series, to the ubiquity of computers in every aspect of life on Deep Space Nine.
Their exploration will yield answers to such puzzling questions as these: -- When the android Data's head is opened, why are there lights inside? -- If the Enterprise's computer is artificially intelligent, why doesn't it make more decisions? -- Could we ever create a holographic doctor like the one on Voyager, or use nonprobes to alter a person's physiology, as the Borg does?
This combination of futurist TV series and futurist science makes for great entertainment -- and great science.
This book was not prepared, licensed, approved, or endorsed by any entity involved in creating or producing the "Star Trek" television series or films.
This thought-provoking book challenges recent critical analysis of Star Trek that finds negative forces such as homophobia, sexism, and racism dominating life on the Enterprise. Citing dozens of episodes, from the original series to Deep Space Nine, the authors reveal Star Trek to he overwhelmingly optimistic and humanistic -- offering its audience a sense of hope and the possibility for empowerment.
Science Fiction Audiences examines the astounding popularity of two television "institutions" - the series Doctor Who and ^Star Trek. Both of these programmes have survived cancellation and acquired an following that continues to grow. The book is based on over ten years of research including interviews with fans and followers of the series. In that period, though the fans may have changed, and ways of studying them as "audiences" may have also changed, the programmes have endured intact, with Star Trek for example now in its fourth television incarnation.John Tulloch and Henry Jenkins dive into the rich fan culture surrounding the two series, exploring issues such as queer identity, fan meanings, teenage love of science fiction, and genre expectations. They encompass the perspectives of a vast population of fans and followers throughout Britain, Australia and the US, who will continue the debates contained in the book, along with those who will examine the historically changing range of audience theory it presents. and continue to attract a huge community of fans and followers. Doctor Who has appeared in nine different guises and Star Trek is now approaching its fourth television incarnation. Science Fiction Audiences examines the continuing popularity of two television 'institutions' of our time through their fans and followers.Through dialogue with fans and followers of Star Trek and Dr Who in the US, Britain and Australia, John Tulloch and Henry Jenkins ask what it is about the two series that elicits such strong and active responses from their audiences. Is it their particular intervention into the SF genre? Their expression of peculiarly 'American' and 'British' national cultures. Their ideologies and visions of the future, or their conceptions of science and technology? Science Fiction Audiences responds to a rich fan culture which encompasses debates about fan aesthetics, teenage attitudes to science fiction, queers and Star Trek , and ideology and pleasure in Doctor Who . It is a book written both for fans of the two series, who will be able to continue their debates in its pages, and for students of media and cultural studies, offering a historical overview of audience theory in a fascinating synthesis of text, context and audience study.
Exploring the relevance of Jungian theory as it applies to science fiction, horror and fantasy films, this text demonstrates the remarkable correlation existing between Jung's major archetypes and recurring themes in various film genres. An introduction acquaints readers with basic Jungian theory archetypes before proceeding to film analysis. A diverse selection of movie and television summaries illustrate the relationship between a particular Jungian image and the examined films.
Science fiction series have remained a staple of American television from its inception: classic programs such as The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and Star Trek, along with recent and current series including Babylon 5 and Stargate SG-1, have been some of the most enduring and influential of all television shows. In this chronological survey, author M. Keith Booker examines this phenomenon and provides in-depth studies of the most important of these series. Science Fiction Television traces the development of the genre as a distinct cultural phenomenon within the context of broader developments in American culture as a whole. In the process, it offers a unique and informative guide for television fans and science fiction fans alike, one whose coverage is unprecedented in its scope and breadth. A must-read for anyone interested in its subject or in American popular culture, Science Fiction Television is a perceptive and entertaining history of one of television's most lasting forms of entertainment.
This lively collection offers a wide-ranging exploration of the erotic and the fantastic in painting, illustration, and frilm. It covers Western art of six centuries--from medieval woodcuts to contemporary poster art--and the cinema of six decades--from horror classics of the 1930s to recent slasher films--documenting the surprising variety of guises in which sexuality appears in fantasy art and cinema. Among the subjects treated are occult eroticism in Medieval and Renaissance art; the use of fantasy as a vehicle for depicting erotic subjects in periods of sexual repression; the fascination with unconscious and aberrant sexuality in the visual arts since the publication of Freud's theories; movie monsters and aliens as emblems of the submerged id or libido; and monstrous metamorphosis as a symbol of the changes accompanying puberty.
Literature often is central to individual maturation. It typically reflects, in one way or another, the experiences of the reader and the larger strains of society. This book examines representative works of science fiction, children's literature, and popular culture as mirrors of what it means to grow up in the contemporary world. That world is permeated by technology, and technology thus figures prominently in the process of growing up and in these literary works. Included are chapters on Superman, the Hardy Boys, Star Trek, music videos, and other topics.
Although the exploration of space has long preoccupied authors and filmmakers, the development of an actual space program, discoveries about the true nature of space, and critical reconsiderations of America's frontier experiences have challenged and complicated conventional portrayals of humans in space. This volume reexamines the themes of space and the frontier in science fiction in light of recent scientific and literary developments. Included are the observations of noted science fiction writers such as Arthur C. Clarke, Gregory Benford, James Gunn, and Jack Williamson, along with contributions from leading scholars in the field.
This international collection explores how science fiction can enrich studies of organization. This book draws upon perspectives from across the arts and social sciences, encompassing innovative approaches to both organization theory and the reading of science fiction