https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject Does science fiction bring us to a greater understanding of what could be or make us fear the unknown? en-us 2021-05-25 17:57:05 UTC 2024-10-02 10:42:11 UTC hello@padlet.com 3552161 https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1558800645 Science fiction is defined as fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes. Science Fiction could be Dystopian, where humanity is often portrayed as a society that brings mass injustice and suffering, usually resulting in fallout, or it could be Utopian, where society is in a perfect state, or idealistic. There has been much debate over science fiction ever since it gained popularity in the late 1800s, whether it was instilling fear of the unknown into people's minds  or if it was going to bring us to a greater understanding of what could be of the future. So what is it? Is Sci-Fi detrimental to society and our visions of our future, or will it make us grow as a society? Well, Sci-Fi can do both, it just depends on what kind of story it is. ]]> 2021-05-25 18:15:48 UTC https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1558800645 3552161 https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566164801 Sci-Fi exposes readers to new ideas of potential futures based on the current path of the world, so we know what to do and what not to do. As an example, the Pedestrian shows the danger of being too reliant on technology and electronics, and how our lives can be engulfed by it. "The tombs, ill-lit by television light, where the people sat like the dead, the gray or multicolored lights touching their faces, but never really touching them" This quote shows how the future is so affected by technology, and never really leave it, giving ourselves a new viewpoint on the issues and challenges our world faces today. ]]> 2021-05-27 18:02:32 UTC https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566164801 3552161 https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566198698 Many Sci-Fi stories add a comedic spin to their futures, giving us a greater understanding of what could be in the future, that too in an entertaining way. As an example, They're Made out of Meat shows the comedic effects of people assuming what happened in the past, or the present based on limited knowledge. “They do, but what do you think is on the radio? Meat sounds. You know how when you slap or flap meat, it makes a noise? They talk by flapping their meat at each other. They can even sing by squirting air through their meat.” This line shows the misunderstanding of the aliens in a humorous way, giving us a new perspective on assuming and making conclusions with not much knowledge.

]]> 2021-05-27 18:12:02 UTC https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566198698 3552161 https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566779446 One of the worse aspects of Science Fiction is the way it can make people fear social progress duo to unrealistic predictions about the future of society. As an example, we can take the New Utopia. In the story, it shows a man waking up to a world where the progress to social equality was taken to unrealistic lengths, and implied to the readers that working towards social equality would take us down down the slippery path down the deep depths of socialism. “We don’t need houses — not houses such as you are thinking of. We are socialistic now; we live together in fraternity and equality.” This is a very unrealistic and irrational way society would develop, even if the story was to take place in the 2800s, and it might instill fear into people who wanted social equality.

]]> 2021-05-27 22:11:23 UTC https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566779446 3552161 https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566805540 Science Fiction also puts distrust among people about the government, thinking that whatever the government does, they do it badly, or bring unrealistic changes that just deal badly. As an example, we could look at Examination Day, in which the government also pushes socialism and equality too far, where children at the age of 12 are supposed to take a govenment examination where children are tested to not be smarter than everyone else. “His mother looked at the tablecloth. “It’s just a sort of Government intelligence test they give children at the age of twelve. You’ll be taking it next week. It’s nothing to worry about.” This makes people distrust and even fear the government, making them think that every bad thing is always the government's fault, which is not a healthy mindset, especially when the government is just trying to help. ]]> 2021-05-27 22:28:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3552161/livelongandprosperlaproject/wish/1566805540