Writers, Directors Fear 'Sci-Fi' Label Like an Attack From Mars »
Posted By charbarred 1 year, 9 months ago in Arts & EntertainmentBook publishers and Hollywood types bend over backward to make sure their product isn't stamped "science fiction."
Read Full Story at wired.com »
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charbarred
I'm the editor and writer of The Plugg (www.thplugg.com) and also a member of the band Shrugged (www.myspace.com/shrugged).
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coreyspring1 year, 9 months ago
Silly but true, say 'science fiction' and the big wigs are afraid the first thing people will think of are a bunch of Star Wars geeks that won't appeal to a wide audience.
Why the Sci Fi channel won't describe Battlestar Galactica even as partially sci fi though is completely beyond me.
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kithrupfugitive1 year, 9 months ago
How ironic to stumble across this story today of all days. I was immediately reminded of the quote from Kurt Vonnegut's essay Science Fiction, which I first read in the collection Wampters, Foma, and Granfalloons:
"I have been a soreheaded occupant of a file drawer labeled "Science Fiction" ... and I would like out, particularly since so many serious critics regularly mistake the drawer for a urinal."
Sad, but seemingly true . . .
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Fangarius1 year, 9 months ago
Well, it's funny, because even the most famous non-sci-fi author and playright, William Shakespeare made the remark, "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet." The problem here is once again, the mass media, mainstreaming of terms. I can recall a time when 'Science fiction' actually had a more sophisticated meaning to it, and wasn't always about futuristic weapons, mad scientists and time travel. I still recall some tales by Ray Bradbury and the cinema where stories had a poignant plot, using little technobabble, but had timely messages that still apply to us today.
Still recall, Fahrenheit 451 and ZPG being outstanding movies, not for their 'sci-fi' background but the messages dealing with the problems which still plague us today.
It's funny how two harmless words freak out Hollywood, but it's perfectly acceptable to cram movies with every offensive word one can think of.
And I agree, Battlestar is still 'sci-fi.'
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Dharma1 year, 9 months ago
Battlestar Galactica is one of my favorite shows and it is most definitely sci-fi. it may be considered "edgy", "modern", political, "fleshed-out reality", part soap opera and or whatever equally descriptive terms you want to use but its sci-fi nonetheless. next are they going to say starship troopers isn't sci-fi either?
The worst part is there is a large contingent of us sci-fi fans who LOOK for that label because it points us in the direction of material we will enjoy NOT because we associate it with geeks and star wars (not the only sci-fi out there!) the same thing happens with fantasy which is often lumped with sci-fi The sword of truth series is technically fantasy but, it is nothing like what most people identify with fantasy. it is real and gritty and holds nothing back and never apologizes for being brutally honest. no pink fluffy clouds or unicorns there! well, ok maybe a few neat "fantasy" creatures but no care bears! :-)
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BoxMonkey1 year, 9 months ago
And Farhrenheit 451 would be.........
Night of the Living Dead would be .........
The Blob would be........
Hmmmm , Star Trek , well that's all coming to a science lab near you . Soon .
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bubba21 year, 9 months ago
It is annoying that some sort of 'stigma' is still associated with science fiction. Among other things, MOST of the biggest movie money-makers of all time are science fiction.
I help run a science fiction convention in Memphis every March. We have had some very fine, intelligent, articulate 'guest speakers' - all of them SF or Fantasy authors.
We have people on our committee that are computer/systems specialists, plant managers, educators (college professors, even), physicians ... no one who would be considered 'geeks' or 'losers' by anyone in their profession or of any aquaintance.
And there are SF/F writers that make good money at it, like Terry Pratchett, David Brin, Ben Bova, Orson Scott Card, Peter David, many others.
The 'stereotype' is really outdated but some long-standing preconceived notions are hard to get rid of ...
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