Discussion on Definitions of Science Fiction
In the first reading assignments of the class, we were asked to read about different definitions of Science Fiction through the history. To my surprise there were 9 pages, and the diversity of the definitions is a par the number of them. While reading the book, I also echoed back with the definitions and have a deeper understanding on them.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the first of its kind. Although Shelley considered the novel to be a horror story, Frankenstein is known as a science fiction classic today. It reminds of a specific definition of science fiction given by Isaac Asimov which states that “True s-f is not to be confused with weird stories or horror stories or tales of the supernatural …show more content…
It is created by science but its being defied natural’s order of life and death. According to Asimov’s definition Frankenstein doesn’t fit that well in science fiction. However, Shelley used Frankenstein and the Monster’s narrative and experience to reveal some of the social injustice and her thought on humanity of the time. I noticed that many definitions of science fiction mentioned that science fiction should show the influence the advanced of science has on human. When Shelley had the story of Frankenstein, the genre science fiction has not officially “born” yet, science is merely the superficial elements used by Shelley to express her opinions. I think the book is still science fiction because the humanity problems discussed in the novel can only come true with the creation of the monster through science. Dr. Frankenstein hated the monster the moment it was born. He didn’t think of the monster as an …show more content…
It was fun to read but also makes me think a lot. I was quite surprised to find out that the novel was written in early 20 Century. Some of the feminism ideas were fit quite well in the current feminism movement and was definitely Avant guard for her time. The post apocalyptic Herland was a civilization consists only of women. The science part of the book is mainly the ways Vandyke, Jeff and Terry used to get into Herland and the setting of Herland. After finished reading the book, it didn’t hit me as a science fiction and the chapters that interests me the most were the ones in which the three men from our world discusses with women from Herland about the customs of our world and Herland. The discussion provided a new insights to view the world at 1910s with outsiders’ eyes. Some of the question about feminism amazed me and made me think of something I never thought about before. Similar to the technique used by Shelley, Gilman used science as a background condition that would enable her to discuss her ideas on feminism and society of the time. Also, feminism today is not considered novelty anymore but it would seem to be a rather futuristic idea for people living in early 20th
In the first reading assignments of the class, we were asked to read about different definitions of Science Fiction through the history. To my surprise there were 9 pages, and the diversity of the definitions is a par the number of them. While reading the book, I also echoed back with the definitions and have a deeper understanding on them.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the first of its kind. Although Shelley considered the novel to be a horror story, Frankenstein is known as a science fiction classic today. It reminds of a specific definition of science fiction given by Isaac Asimov which states that “True s-f is not to be confused with weird stories or horror stories or tales of the supernatural …show more content…
It is created by science but its being defied natural’s order of life and death. According to Asimov’s definition Frankenstein doesn’t fit that well in science fiction. However, Shelley used Frankenstein and the Monster’s narrative and experience to reveal some of the social injustice and her thought on humanity of the time. I noticed that many definitions of science fiction mentioned that science fiction should show the influence the advanced of science has on human. When Shelley had the story of Frankenstein, the genre science fiction has not officially “born” yet, science is merely the superficial elements used by Shelley to express her opinions. I think the book is still science fiction because the humanity problems discussed in the novel can only come true with the creation of the monster through science. Dr. Frankenstein hated the monster the moment it was born. He didn’t think of the monster as an …show more content…
It was fun to read but also makes me think a lot. I was quite surprised to find out that the novel was written in early 20 Century. Some of the feminism ideas were fit quite well in the current feminism movement and was definitely Avant guard for her time. The post apocalyptic Herland was a civilization consists only of women. The science part of the book is mainly the ways Vandyke, Jeff and Terry used to get into Herland and the setting of Herland. After finished reading the book, it didn’t hit me as a science fiction and the chapters that interests me the most were the ones in which the three men from our world discusses with women from Herland about the customs of our world and Herland. The discussion provided a new insights to view the world at 1910s with outsiders’ eyes. Some of the question about feminism amazed me and made me think of something I never thought about before. Similar to the technique used by Shelley, Gilman used science as a background condition that would enable her to discuss her ideas on feminism and society of the time. Also, feminism today is not considered novelty anymore but it would seem to be a rather futuristic idea for people living in early 20th