Is Star Wars sci-fi?
treyk...@hotmail.com
the worlds have technology but it's really much more fantasy and
adventure.
Matrix is an excellent example of sci-fi, which is maybe why hard sci-
fi fans are saying it's a better film, I'd say it's probably a better
*sci-fi* film but not a better film. Sci-fi is usually about
extrapolations--looking at what the future will be like based upon
current technology and situations. You can't extrapolate what the
future will be like in a setting that is a long time ago in a galaxy
far far away. Sci-fi never has magic, it's always explained
scientifically. What is the Force? Even the midiclorians are still
somewhat magical (They aren't the Force, they are tuners to it).
When taking literature, you study Realism, Modernism, Romanticism.
Given it's futuristic setting, The Matrix is an example of Realism and
MOdernism: grim, cynical, negative, dark, gritty, the action tends to
leave one thinking "That's kickass". Star Wars on the other hand is
Romantic. It's idealistic adventure with heroes and villains.
I hate most sci-fi. I really dont' care for a lot of it. I love Star
Wars and I love Doctor Who and both of those are definitely more
whimsical and fantastic. Some people get more of a kick looking at
the cool trench coats and sunglasses of the Matrix while some people
like me are much more enchanted by the gowns that Queen Amidala wore.
The Star Wars world is a much more aesthetically beautiful world and
some people think that in the realm of sci-fi/fantasy, there should be
no beauty or humor. And any humor there is is genearlly the form of
witty one liners used before a character kills someone.
To use a metaphor:
George Lucas is like WIlly Wonka taking us into his wonderful factory.
The spoiled Veruca Salts and loving violent TV show Mike Teavees won't
get the full effect of TPM. HOwever, if like Charlie, you approach
Episode 1, with a sense of wonder and innocence about the whole thing,
then you are much more likely to get into that great glass elevator in
the sky.
--
Star Wars is all about escapism.
Where would you rather live? The Star Wars universe or the world of the
Matrix?
Trey
"Express Yourself, Don't Repress Yourself"--Human Nature
treyk...@hotmail.com
"Next phase, next stage, next craze, next wave"
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arkha...@my-dejanews.com
Well Harlan Ellison (an AMAZING Writer) made a statement that there
is a difference between "Sci-fi' and actual Science Fiction. Whereas
Science Fiction, like the stories told by Ellison, Asimov, Heinlein,
Bova, Dick, Gibson, etc, that take a philosophical question and make a
story out of it (example: What if a computer gained sentience and
emotions), Sci-Fi simply takes normal situations and places them in
ficticious settings (like the far future or distant past or another
dimention).
Basically the Star Wars movies are the later. They are well
scripted dramas that could just as well take place in a medieval
setting with sorcery replacing the force, or some other setting.
Star TREK on the other hand moved between the two subgenera. Some
stories are just political or social themes played ot in the futuristic
setting while others are actual science fiction.
To use your example, 'The Matrix" would be an example of science
fiction, because it questioned the very fabric of our reality. It
asked some serious what if questions.
By the way I am not saying that Star Wars is bad because it is Sci-fi,
just that it is not science fiction (By harlan Elison's definition...
which I agree with).
Arkham (Who is busy writing Star Wars: TPM Fan Fiction... hope I am not
the only one)
Slipstream
Bravo!
Chong Sin Lim's News
Roadkill[PCR]
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treyk...@hotmail.com wrote in message <7ia6b1$fl$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>...
>"Express Yourself, Don't Repress Yourself"--Human Nature
>treyk...@hotmail.com
>"Next phase, next stage, next craze, next wave"
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