Shayna Meshizahav
HIST 3435
05/18/2014
Historically, popular culture has been seen to evolve along with the era in which it is generated. The analysis of the predominantly popular genre within a given generation can serve, therefore, as a window into that particular generation’s prevailing way of thought. One thing that greatly affects that way of thought is the recent history immediately preceding that time.
Westerns and science fiction are two genres employed by popular culture that are, in that order, chronologically consecutive in history in terms of their popularity. When analyzed, they show themselves to be also extremely similar to one another, both thematically and structurally. Yet the shift in desirability from the dominant trend of western works to those of science fiction did occur, and I would argue is still occurring today. The reason for that shift in spite of the many similarities of the two genres, along with the factor of the added differences over time, may therefore be a convenient tool in revealing where exactly the ideologies of these respective generations diverge.
The most apparent thematic parallel between westerns and science fiction is their shared consistent adherence to the ideas of imperialism, racism, and genocide. Within those broader themes, there are more specific tropes that recur across the two genres. And within those tropes, there are recurring formulaic characters and situations specific to each genre, but with clear counterparts in the other. A generalized typical western work would likely contain the following elements, whether as part of the backdrop or as the main focus: the procession of the white colonizing protagonist to the Western frontier, with usually negative encounters with Na...
... middle of paper ...
...s. The inevitable genocide occurs.
I would argue that the switch from westerns to this particular brand of science fiction, which can be referred to as colonial science fiction, does not yet have particular importance, at least in terms of the underlying philosophy stimulating their creation. The setting and specific identity of the classic characters have changed, but the main narrative has not. Within imperialist literature, the story of the Western hero and the dangerous natives has finally become somewhat overused; the frontier has been tamed and taken, and new frontiers were needed in order to breathe new life into the colonial ideology. With an increasing lack of unexplored places on the globe to exploit, the setting was transferred to outer space. It is only in later emerging works that an ideological shift took place, from colonialism to post-colonialism.
Pop culture in the 1950s and 1960s began to spread and infest the nation from front to back through radio shows, books and magazines, television programs, and even motion pictures. Whether it is culture in terms of political affairs, clothing or the latest musical sensations, the United States has always played the dominant role when it came to who knows what is best, first. Some cases of Americanizati...
Most westerns have a heroic cowboy that fights against corrupt officials to save a small helpless town or a person in need of help. They also have women who are attracted to the cowboy, and Indians who the cowboy usually fights. The cowboy is moral and fights for good because he is free from civilization its deceit and the wilderness (Wright, 2001, pp. 18-58; Belton, 2009, pp. 248-249). Most cowboys who emerge in western films are honest and forthright.
In this essay I will discuss the way in which the generic marker ‘The visual surface of Science Fiction presents us with a confrontation between those images to which we respond as “alien” and those we know to be familiar’ can be applied to Blade Runner and to what end.
Somewhere out in the Old West wind kicks up dust off a lone road through a lawless town, a road once dominated by men with gun belts attached at the hip, boots upon their feet and spurs that clanged as they traversed the dusty road. The gunslinger hero, a man with a violent past and present, a man who eventually would succumb to the progress of the frontier, he is the embodiment of the values of freedom and the land the he defends with his gun. Inseparable is the iconography of the West in the imagination of Americans, the figure of the gunslinger is part of this iconography, his law was through the gun and his boots with spurs signaled his arrival, commanding order by way of violent intentions. The Western also had other iconic figures that populated the Old West, the lawman, in contrast to the gunslinger, had a different weapon to yield, the law. In the frontier, his belief in law and order as well as knowledge and education, brought civility to the untamed frontier. The Western was and still is the “essential American film genre, the cornerstone of American identity.” (Holtz p. 111) There is a strong link between America’s past and the Western film genre, documenting and reflecting the nations changes through conflict in the construction of an expanding nation. Taking the genres classical conventions, such as the gunslinger, and interpret them into the ideology of America. Thus The Western’s classical gunslinger, the personification of America’s violent past to protect the freedoms of a nation, the Modernist takes the familiar convention and buries him to signify that societies attitude has change towards the use of diplomacy, by way of outmoding the gunslinger in favor of the lawman, taming the frontier with civility.
Star Trek took the world by storm with its futuristic scenarios and outlandish ideas, which opened up the doors for science fiction in America as it gained recognition and popularity all across the world. It started as a television series in the 1960’s to becoming a multi-billion dollar franchise including 5 television series, 12 movies, and selling a magnitude of merchandise (Star Trek). People tend to look past the fact that Star Trek was so influential on the world, all they see is men and women in weird suits fighting aliens in space. But, what people don’t see is the how Star Trek inspired people and events that have drastically impacted not only America, but eventually the whole world. Things like the non-vehicular cell phone, iPad, and other devices and people were all inspired by the series (Star Trek). Fans dedicate themselves to Star Trek conventions and replica building and fanfiction. They even consider themselves part of the Star Trek family, calling themselves ‘Trekkies’ or ‘Trekkers’ (Star Trek). Star Trek fans have even gone as far as of learning to speak Klingon and use the Vulcan salute as a symbol to recognize another fan (Star Trek).
Epstein, Dan. 20th Century Pop Culture: The Early Years to 1949. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2001. Print.
Suvin, Darko. Metamorphoses of Science Fiction: On the Poetics and History of a Literary Genre . New Haven : Yale University Press, 1979.
The Best Science Fiction of the Twentieth Century. Ed. Orson Scott Card. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 2001. 212-217.
The Levin Institute - The State University of New York. "Pop Culture." Globalization101. The Levin Institute - The State University of New York, 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
Although considered the day Rock ‘n’ Roll was born, many other events in American history have given foundation to this much loved idea. Rock ‘n’ Roll is much more than just music, rather it is the movement which underlines cultural imperialism. Rock had been promoting a culture of comfort and freedom from social constraints as well. Although the style of ‘Rock music’ is easily adaptable into many different sounds, it is still thoroughly identified by its definingly amplified rhythm. The sudden worldwide popularity of rock and roll resulted in an unparalleled social impact. Rock ‘n’ Roll influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language in a way few other social developments have equaled. The social impact is so large that rock stars are worshipped worldwide. In its early years, many adults condemned the style of music, placing a stigma on its name, and forbid their children from listening and following its ways. Many considered Rock ‘n’ Roll culture as a bad influence to all people, but as the genre aged and the now not-so-young crowds had matured, Rock was respected and
Kornbluth, C. M. "The Failure of the Science Fiction Novel As Social Criticism." The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism. (1969): 64-101.
The development of the Western genre originally had its beginnings in biographies of frontiersmen and novels written about the western frontier in the late 1800’s based on myth and Manifest Destiny. When the film industry decided to turn its lenses onto the cowboy in 1903 with The Great Train Robbery there was a plethora of literature on the subject both in non-fiction and fiction. The Western also found roots in the ‘Wild West’ stage productions and rodeos of the time. Within the early areas of American literature and stage productions the legend and fear of the west being a savage untamed wilderness was set in the minds of the American people. The productions and rodeos added action and frivolity to the Western film genre.
“Star Wars Genre Crisis” Sci-Fi and Fantasy are works of fictions that are now known today as a form of entertainment, but from time to time people will confuse the two and interlink them together. A good example would be the film “Star Wars” as its equally debatable on whether it’s Sci-Fi or Fantasy. Star Wars originally was a series of films, however, there were novels that released before the film was aired. These novels were nothing more than the actual script of the Star Wars movies that were already in development by George Lucas in 1997. Star Wars explores the many adventures of various characters such as Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker etc.
The Old West was, at the peak of its popularity, an artistic representation of Americana. Leading men such as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood were larger than life and representative of America’s view of its place in the world—a rugged avenger who does what he wants to right all wrong—and with the shift in American culture came a reciprocal shift in the Western genre. The Weird West incorporates elements unfamiliar to the West, whether they be originally from this Earth or otherwise. In some cases, weird comes in the form of atypical choice of the protagonist’s species; in other cases, it comes in the form of an invading alien race. Weird Westerns are incredibly diverse and malleable, so the elements of their stories that qualify them as weird
Pop culture is a reflection of social change, not a cause of social change” (John Podhoretz). It encompasses the advertisements we see on T.V, the clothes we wear, the music we listen too, and it’s the reason Leonardo DiCaprio has not won an Oscar yet. It defines and dictates the desires and fears of the mainstream members of society; and it is so ingrained into our lives that it has become as natural as breathing. Moreover, adults never even bat an eyelash at all the pop culture and advertising that surrounds them since it has become just another part of everyday life. Pop culture is still somewhat seen as entertainment enjoyed by the lower class members of society; but pop culture standards change over time. A notable example of this is the sixteenth century author, William Shakespeare, since his works were considered pop culture, entertainment that could be enjoyed by everyone, but now they are considered literary classics. While pop culture encompasses most aspects of our lives, its influence is most obvious through each generations reaction to media,