Science-Fiction in Contemporary Society

Science-Fiction in Contemporary Society

Introduction

In the expression of their message to their respective audience concerning social, political and economic issues, that closely affect life in general, authors and film-makers communicate through writing novels and making films that depict a fictitious world full of imaginations. Themes majored in these artistic works include; political takeovers, nuclear wars, gender-based violence, racism, causes and effects of catastrophic climatic changes, economic crisis, disease, and epidemics outbreaks as well as future generations technological advancement that has not yet been discovered. Science and fiction is a literary genre that gained its popularity in the 20th century following the advancement in technology. Through the use of imaginative characters, events, equipment, and unreal environments, they have helped provokethe consumers’critical thinking, which has been a major contributor to rapid technoogical developments in the area of communication, transport, weaponry, medicine and environmental conservation to prevent facing the wrath of mother- nature (Compora, 4). Societal vices such as political conspiracy, gender-based violence, racism are normally brought out clearly to enlighten as well as warn readers against them. This paper seeks to explore how science and fiction work to influence contemporary society in areas of culture, communication, home entertainment, Space travel, and transportation.

Through Science fiction, positive changes have been witnessedin modernsociety’s culture. For instance,during the civil rights movement,Star Trek in collaboration with Martin Luther King Jr. Uhura helped relieve racial tension. At a time when Nichelle Nicholas considered quitting from the show, she was convinced by Martin Luther King Jr. to stay as it brought equality between Caucasians and African Americans (Hirschman et al, 7). Additionally,it was seen as the first role given to an African American actor that was non-stereotypical.This equality between African Americans and Caucasians was widely recognizedas it was at a time when racism and racial matters were at its peak. As such, this set the precedent forharmonious living with equality as part of this equation.

Fantastical ideas, developed in the sci-fi genre have greatly impacted communication in the modern world. For example, the cellphone is one of the major communication breakthroughs that attributes its invention to star trek television series where it was recognized as the ‘communicator’. Captain Kirk used the communicator to contact other starships throughout the galaxy wirelessly(Hirschman et al, 7). Martin Cooper the cellphone inventor, attributes his major source of inspiration for his invention to the Star trek’s communicator. Since then, the cellphone has been a necessary evil that enables people to regularly keep in touch. Cellphone technology has seen increased improvements from landline to wireless devices making it an influential gadget to be used by modern society and contributing to the expansion of the communication field.

Home entertainment has as well been greatly impacted by science fiction as it has become a major societal pastime. A good example is in Ray Bradbury’s dystopic Fahrenheit 451wherebyinteractive games and big-screen televisions were evident. In Fahrenheit 451 entertainment is carried out in the parlor whose walls are surrounded by big screens, like those that exist in many households today.Unlike books that require one’s concentrationto comprehend television enables people to zone out. Characters in Fahrenheit 451 relate the TVasequipment engulfs somebody to the point that time no longer has meaning and booksas mediums that are controllable.The dystopia predicted by Bradbury in his novel can be noticed as it unwraps in modern society.However, the impact of science fiction on this equipment has influenced society negatively in such a way that they fail to invest time for reading and for other activities that may require comprehension through the mind (Seung Hyun Park, 94).Advancement in technology enables humans to do less and at the time it improves the intellectual capacity of a society.

Science fiction in books and films has greatly shapedspace travel thereby contributing to societal well-being.Space travel, for instance, is a very crucial technology that was entirely influenced by all the aspects of science fiction. A good example ‘A Trip to the Moon’ by George Meliesis a short film about the journey to the moon but it inspired present engineers to develop ships that can navigate the moon. The curiosity of the society of knowing more regarding the universe utilized such space travel films to spark competitions as to who can travel to the moon first among nations especially developed countries(Seung Hyun Park, 94). Most influence regarding space travels trace roots to the curiosity that was instilled in the minds of societal elites through science fiction movies and books. Although all seems like fiction the question of whether it could be made true always keeps the industry advancing.Upon naming of a shuttle enterprise by NASAon Dumoulin a popular TV show, Star Trek made its stamp on space travel (Hirschman et al, 9).

Furthermore, Science fiction has made an unerasable mark when it comes to methods of transportation be it for sea or land. For instance, although submarines had existed in the world before sci-fi had described them, it was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne’s that was behind the inspiration of submarines that would not only be efficient but also effective for wars. Verne’s imagination was the beginning of modern submarines. Similarly, through the works of the Star Wars saga, electric vehicles were discovered. Vehicles on planets that featured in the Star Wars film were solar or electric-powered similar to those that are hitting the automotive sector today.Anakin rides on a hydrogen-powered vehicle in Star Wars and after three years since the release of the movie electric cars from different automotive brands hit the market (Hirschman et al, 10). It is believed that in designing electric cars science fiction played a big role in making this a reality. Since then electric vehicles have been seen as the solution to global warming and as such, it would be right to conclude that science fiction is taking the society towards a profitable direction.

In conclusion, as discussed science fiction has been and is used as a manual for both cultural and technological advances. Many technological advancements take credit from the imaginative realms that creative filmmakers and authors create.The advancement in culture, space travel, communication, home entertainment, and methods of transportation are all beneficial to society. Also, watching tangible realities unwrap from fantastical ideas is exciting to watch. However, some of these influences like that on home entertainment have negative repercussions as they may lure people into the visual stimulation resulting in a decrease in the need to learn. Although science fiction is fiction in itself it is magical in that it does have a way of getting into our hands from the pages. Star Trek and Star Wars are some examples of science fiction that inspired great innovations promptinginnovators and inventors in the field of science have turned fantasy into reality.

Works Cited

Compora, Daniel P. Apocalyptic Fiction: Dealing with the End of the World in the Classroom. Mar. 1998. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED416488&site=eds-live.

Hirschman D., Schwadel P., Searle R., and Naqvi I.,”Why Sociology Needs Science Fiction”sociology for the public. 2018. Accessed from https://contexts.org/articles /sociology-needs-science-fiction/

Seung Hyun Park. “Dystopia in the Science Fiction Film: Blade Runner and Adorno’s Critique of Modern Society.” International Journal of Contents, vol. 8, no. 3, Sept. 2015, p. 94. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=84129984&site=eds-live.