Kinsella, John. On Genre: a Reader's Guide to the Writing and Reading of ... Wayne State

University Press, 2003. 

Overview: This article provides background information on genre in terms of what it is, and how large its variability is. The author discusses that genres tend to have their own “standards” or sets of “unwritten rules”, which are referred to as “conventions”. The author also suggests that different styles of writing can also be considered genres. Overall this article gives readers insight into what genre is, what can classify as genre, how it functions in reading and writing, and lastly how it can be subverted to further an argument or make a point. 

Analysis: This article was very beneficial to my understanding of the material in this class. It sets up the Genre Analysis project well by providing knowledge on the topics of genre conventions, along with the subversion of genre conventions. The author makes it clear that authors/ writers intentionally sway away from typical genre conventions to emphasize a critical point, since audiences and readers tend to be accustomed to these conventions and status quo. As a result, any “abnormalities” tend to be eye catching. This in turn, makes audiences think more critically when reading literature, as they begin to ask themselves why an author is subverting a genre convention, “what are they trying to prove and argue by doing this?” 

 

Le Guin, Ursula K. “The Shobies' Story.” From A Fisherman of the Inland Sea: Science Fiction 

Stories. Harper Prism, 1994. ed., Ace, 2019, pp. 81-113.

Overview: The Shobies are a space crew  who are on a journey on their spacecraft which is named the Shoby. Much of their social construct and sense of community is guided by their sharing of knowledge and their telling of stories. They take part in time and space travel through the “Churten Theory” Their crew operates on collective agreement and cohesion, and focuses on bonding within the crew through their storytelling, which allows them to promote transilience. The only obstacle in their journey is their own minds and perception. 

Analysis: From the get go it is evident that this story has a large emphasis on bonding, and cohesion between crew members. This is largely due to the repetition involved in this story, one instance where this can be seen is when Rig repeatedly asks for a story over and over again (pg 94-95). In addition, The term “talking” is referenced many times in this story. Some of these terms are repeated throughout to provide emphasis on certain themes of the story. This story is useful in understanding the wide reach of science fiction (how perception of instantaneous travel depending on the mind can be sci-fi rather than fantasy).

 

Butler, Octavia. “Amnesty” From Bloodchild and Other Stories. Seven Stories Press, 2005. Pp. 

89-110. 

Summary: Published in 1995, Amnesty by Octavia Butler is a short story that follows the main character Noah and her experiences/encounters with the extraterrestrial beings (referred to as “communities”) that have invaded Earth. Many humans fear these communities and feel as if they have become oppressed because of their actions, however, Noah believes that internal conflict among humans is much more detrimental to their society, and that it is critically important that the humans learn to live alongside these communities. 

Analysis: This story is a prime example of how science fiction can be used to reflect and shine a light on current issues. The issue held under the lens here is the divide between the human race, caused by conflicting opinions, and differences in beliefs, character, and appearance. Ultimately, the story shows us that apart from minor differences and disparities, we are more or less the same and working in unison with one another, can allow us to achieve far more progress than would otherwise be possible.

 

Lee, Dion. “Why We Imagine Aliens the Way We Do.” Vox, Vox, 15 Mar. 2018, 

https://www.vox.com/videos/2018/3/15/17126340/science-fiction-aliens-vfx-seti. 

Summary: This video/article provides us with examples of the variation of ways in which aliens and extraterrestrial life are portrayed in the media. The article and video also answer the question of where these conceptions of aliens come from. Many alien depictions tend to share a common theme, they are full of human features and traits.

Analysis: This video/article is great as it provides us with reasoning behind our subconscious depictions of aliens in the media. It allows readers to see a very common sci-fi convention, and why it is a convention in the first place, while at the same time furthering the idea that sci-fi is used to reflect present-day topics, which is potentially a reason for the implementation of human-like traits in aliens.

 

“Science Fiction.” TV Tropes, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScienceFiction. 

Summary: This article offers a very detailed and focused overview of the science fiction genre. The article suggests that Sci-Fi relies heavily on speculative fiction and the “what-if” side of things, and that Sci-Fi is as much of a genre as it is a setting. It introduces the idea that there are two main types of science fiction - hard and soft. Hard science fiction relies on using already established science or justifying its fictionalized science using “carefully calculated predictions”. On the other hand, soft science fiction tends to explore the seemingly more unrealistic side of science.

Analysis: This article was critical in the introduction of the science fiction genre. It provides me with information that is highly beneficial in critically reading works of sci-fi and analyzing texts of the genre.

 

The Take. Arrival Movie's "Dirty Sci-Fi": Remixing the Genre. YouTube, 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iutPYHcJfw0&t=33s. 

Summary: This video provides a very brief plot summary, as well as a list of themes, along with background information on the creative mind of the director of the film Arrival. The video discusses how the film ties into some sci-fi conventions, while also subverting some conventions. The video categorizes the movie as “dirty sci-fi” due to its documentary-like feel.

Analysis: This video provides unique examples of how the sci-fi genre can be subverted through the close analysis of the sci-fi film - Arrival. Through the critical analysis of the story’s plot, the video also shows how a sci-fi story’s message can be much more complex than what is seen at the surface.

 

Villeneuve, Denis, director. Arrival. Paramount Pictures, 2016.

Summary: In this film there are a few alien space pods that have landed in many countries on Earth. News outlets and journalists in the movie are quick to jump to conclusions and suggest that the aliens could be there to start a war. As the movie progresses, the main character of the film, who is a scientist, alongside a colleague, establish a method of communication with these aliens, however these aliens have their own language in which they communicate in. Eventually, the scientists manage to ask the aliens, why they are on Earth, and what their purpose here is. The aliens' response is lost in translation, and scientists all over the world interpret “to offer a weapon” as a declaration of war, the main scientist argues that this is not the case and that they might have meant “to offer a tool”. Ultimately, they learn that the “gift” or “tool” the aliens were here to offer was their language itself which has the capability to make time “non-linear'' and eliminate the distinction between past, present and future.

Analysis: Similar to what was said in the analysis video listed above, this film serves as a unique science fiction source with interesting genre conventions and subversions that ultimately promote an argument reflective of issues in current day society.

 

Le Guin, Ursula K. “Dancing to Ganam” From A Fisherman of the Inland Sea: Science Fiction 

Stories. Harper Prism, 1994. ed., Ace, 2019, pp. 114-157.

Summary: The story begins on a spacecraft, and the audience is immediately introduced to the main characters of the story who are: Shan, Dalzul, Riel, and Forest. Dalzul has returned from a trip to a fictional world known as Ganam, as he arrives the crewmembers are in awe of his charisma and confidence. Dalzul suggests to his crew that they return to Ganam with the intent of helping the local people prosper, not thinking much of it, Shan, Forest, and Riel agree and follow along with Dalzul. Throughout the story, Dalzul’s ego continues to inflate as he is constantly praised and celebrated by the people of Ganam. Later in the story, Riel and Forest, the two primary female characters of the story, become rather skeptical of Dalzul’s involvement in this society. As they all grow concerned about Dalzul’s wellbeing, Shan begins to question Dalzul’s sanity At the end of the story, Dalzul’s ignorance, and over-involvement in a foreign society leads to delusion and ultimately his death.

Analysis: This story was also a very unique science fiction source as it engages with historical topics much more than is standard in most science fiction stories. The author of the story uses themes of first contact and “discovery” of new land to push the idea that sci-fi can be utilized to reflect on the past rather than project the  future.

 

Foster, Fiona. “History of World Civilization II.” Lumen Learning, 

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-tcc-worldciv2/chapter/age-of-exploration/.

Summary: This is an educational article that grants readers with information regarding the age of exploration, as well as background information on many of the famous explorers that highlighted this era, such as: Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Vasco de Gama. It gives a brief but sufficient overview on Christopher Columbus and his voyages and how it led to his “discovery” of the “new land”.

Analysis: This was a supplemental source used to support my connection between Dalzul’s first contact with Ganam in Dancing to Ganam and Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of the “new world” which was America. 

 

Goddard, Drew, and Andy Weir. The Martian. Directed by Ridley Scott, 20th Century Fox, 2015.

Summary: This movie follows the journey of an astronaut who must learn to survive on Mars after being left behind following a severe dust storm. The astronaut must learn to ration and grow his own food, establish a form of communication with HQ, along with many other difficult tasks. The astronaut records his daily activities as documentation for what it was like trying to survive on Mars.

Analysis: This movie provided me with a prime example of how writers have ability to explore and experiment with the edges of their genreThis film’s plot is somewhat realistic given the era we live in that this movie could be considered non-fiction in the foreseeable future, yet it still falls into the category of “hard” science fiction.

 

Cameron, James. Avatar. Directed by James Cameron, Lightstorm Entertainment, 2009.

Summary: In this film, a group of humans set out on a mission to another planet, Pandora, with the intent of locating a valuable material. This planet is inhabited by extraterrestrial life. The main character begins to see the humans’ wrongdoings, and comes to the realization that the invasion of this foreign planet is morally wrong. He eventually fights alongside his new alien comrades whom he has built relationships with, in order to protect the planet from the human invasion, which is also a great example of social and societal attitudes being displayed.

Analysis: This movie does indeed showcase some realistic scientific concepts such as: genome editing, habitable moons and planets, and some highly advanced armory, weapons and vehicles. However, there are some aspects of the film that are extremely unrealistic such as: dragon-like creatures, floating mountains and a “magical” tree. Given these fantasy-like characteristics, this movie classifies as “soft” science fiction.

 

Markus, Christopher, et al. Avengers: Infinity War. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, 

Marvel Studios, 2018.

Summary: In this movie, there is an antagonist named Thanos who believes for the universe to be balanced, half the population must be eliminated. In order to deplete half the universe’s population, he must gather all the infinity stones. In the process of gathering these stones, he invaded many planets, bringing his army to colonize the lands and spread his ideologies, and left the planets trashed.

 Analysis: This movie was used as a supplement to draw connections to the theme of invasion and overinvolvement in a foreign land which is seen in Dancing to Ganam. It serves as a futuristic example, whereas the invasion in Dancing to Ganam was much more reflective of the past.