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xfirefly9xI have a few questions about science fiction on television for you guys. Even if you don't like sci-fi I'd appreciate your answers. In fact, I'd love a few non-fans to answer. This is research for one of my assignments and though ideas from your answers may be used, the assessment is not based on the results found here. I just figure it'll help ensure I don't miss any vital topics that I should cover.
Example questions:
What is science fiction to you? How would you define it?
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
Example questions:
What is science fiction to you? How would you define it?
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 02:03 pm (UTC)It's a genre just like any other that likes to consider itself cutting edge and willing to pose the 'big questions'. I think it's broadening now with shows such as Lost, Heroes etc in an attempt to become more mainstream.
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
The science is a big pull for me (however inaccurate it may be portrayed in certain instances) and applying those sciences - physics etc to an exaggerated and often fantastical world in order to explore their outcomes and how they impact on that world/characters ethically, emotionally and physically.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it?
I got into sci fi when I was a teenager, I wasn't really aware of it before then. I have stuck with it, though I can be selective about which shows/movies in the genre I watch and devote my time to.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived.
I think the most prominent one here is that all sci fi fans are nerdy teenage boys in their parent's basement, devoid of any social skills/vitamin D. I for one learnt that a great many fans in the online fandom are in fact women and that (online) fandom encompasses not only episode discussion and debate but fan work such as fan fic, fan vids and artwork.
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value?
It depends on how bad the 'science' is. Having an interest, but limited understanding nonetheless of physics it can be easy to pick up on where certain ideas have come from and what is complete BS. It can affect the entertainment value if the rest of the script doesn't keep my interest elsewhere.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
Well you only have to glance at Stargate and Farscape to see their comedic value. Comedy, drama, westerns (firefly! :P)many sci fi shows/movies could fit into a number of these genres.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why?
One goal of sci fi is to explore the possibilities of the future, sci fi has shown progressive societies and thus broken certain molds for women (look at Uhura). So yes, sci fi has done it's part in promoting feminism, but, I do think it, like society still has a way to go in order to show true equality in that regard.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why?
It's hard to judge sci fi characters in general because of the often outlandish and peculiar circumstances they often find themselves in. For the most part they are depicted at being quite heroic, if not eccentric as a result of their environment.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why?
Relationships and character building is not something that's commonly found in sci fi - a genre that deals more with plot and special effects, and to that end, relationships can be hard to depict as these characters are dealing with one another with regard to their environment, which is often so different from anything the viewer can relate to fully.
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why?
Sci fi rates pretty high for me on the entertainment scale. It's a great form of escapism and shows/movies in the genre often make me think, which can also be a plus.
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add?
Sci fi often has the ability to attract the lunatic fringe, but who wants to be normal anyway? :P
no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 02:38 pm (UTC)Literally, a genre that's hampered only by what would be scientifically possible. In reality, it uses what we could be and holds it up as a mirror to what we are.
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
I like big question sci fi. I like that by defining what we aren't, in terms of aliens and morals and ethics, you have to define what we are. I like the potential. I like the escapism as well, but I like the parts that make me think.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it?
Raised on Star Trek and Asimov and other sci fi things, so always liked it.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived.
That it's about aliens. It never is. It's about people and society.
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value?
It depends on what the intention of the show is - if they're trying to be scientifically accurate within what we know then it jolts me out to hear scientific inaccuracies. If it's a show that isn't trying to be factually accurate, I don't care so much.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
Most genres are a sliding scale and sit somewhere between several genres. Sci fi horrors can certainly exist, and a lot of shows sit on the border of science fiction and science fantasy. Target audiences could define a genre as well, so children's sci fi may be a genre?
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why?
I think it could do. I think a lot of them don't, because they're trying to make boys of 15-25 sit down and watch them (especially true of the US market).
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why?
It varies, depending on the show and the character and the circumstances.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why?
I think they're important, because sci fi is about the people, not the situation. And a lot of how you define people is in their relationships with each other.
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why?
Highly, because it's a genre I enjoy. And because there's always an element of plot going through any one episode, but it can also incorporate anything you want in it.
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add?
no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 02:42 pm (UTC)What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it? I like thinking about the possibilities. I think sci-fi lends itself to telling the big epic stories.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it? I've always liked sci-fi. My family is full of sci-fi geeks.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived. I think there's a misconception that sci-fi isn't smart or intelligent storytelling. Look at BSG not getting any emmy nods, when it was such a well written, well acted, thought provoking show. Sci-fi can tell the 'big stories' without being too preachy about it. Star Trek could tell stories about racism with using 'human' races. Don't get me wrong. There is crappy sci-fi out there (but there's crappy versions of every genre).
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value? Not really. As long as they can kind of make it seem logical in my mind, then I can go with the flow.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any? Sci-fi can do just about anything any other show can do. Action Adventure/Romance/Comedy.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why? Yes, but not necessarily in an overtly preachy way. Whoopi Goldberg was influenced by Uhura on television because here was a black woman on television who wasn't a maid and who was treated with respect by her coworkers. I think sci-fi also allows woman to get out of 'traditional' roles because it's not our world. Kara Thrace can kick ass and take names because in her world there isn't a belief that woman can't be good soldiers.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why? This is a pretty broad question. I will say that I generally won't watch a show unless I care about the characters and their motivations. The characters I like in sci-fi shows I like for the same reasons I like characters in non-sci-fi shows: they're usually funny, complex people who are working through issues.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why?Again, it just depends on the show. In sci-fi I think there tends to be more 'OMG! the end of the world!' stuff so you get to see strong bonds form between the characters. End of the world catastrophic stuff tends to bring people together.
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why? Hmmm... Most of my DVDs are probably sci-fi/fantasy related. I like the 'Big Stories'
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add?
no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 03:59 pm (UTC)What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it? I love that anything is possible in sci-fi worlds. The laws of physics and reality can be broken to create beautiful images and creatures like magic/powers and non-human civilizations. I like being able to visit a place that came from someone's original thought. I don't like it however, when the story-lines and laws of said 'verse are not well defined and when you can find holes in the foundations.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it? I didn't realize how much I liked it till I got past the name. When I didn't think of shows/books as sci-fi I enjoyed them more. But I think that is because there is a stigma around the genre that needs to be adjusted. Now that I look back I watched/watch tons of sci-fi without really noticing.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived. I think I covered that in the last question. I think that the genre has been discriminated against, but I think the stigma is wrongly placed. And Just because something is sci-fi doesn't mean it's automatically a space movie either.
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value? If the science doesn't get explained properly/doesn't make sense then I don't enjoy the show/book.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any? If Joss Whedon has shown us anything it's that any genre can be combined. I'm just waiting for a Musical Slasher... Wait, never mind Sweeney Todd has that covered lol.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why? Depends what you're watching. Buffy=Yes, Dark Angel=Yes, Heroes= Not so much.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why? Again, depends on the show. It doesn't matter what genre you have, you can have crappy characters and you can have characters you want to be the Mother of your children. ;)
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why? I feel that unconventional relationships flourish more in a sci-fi setting. --> Star Trek's first interracial couple. There is also a higher occurrence of Same-sex pairings in sci-fi I find, or at least they are less ambiguous with them .
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why? I think my ratio would be about 50/50. I go where the characters/actors/writers are good, doesn't matter what genre. Hell I'm watching a spanish soap opera because there is an adorable lesbian couple in it, and I don't speak spanish! (Los Hombres de Paco) :D
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add? Surveys are a fun way to kill time before a midterm. Screw studying. ;)
no subject
Date: 2009-10-13 04:56 pm (UTC)The core of sci-fi is about using different, unique settings to pose moral and philosophical questions in different lights, enabling them to be thought about in different ways. IN SPACE.
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
My favourite parts of the genre have to be the various ways in which space-time is beaten all to hell - alternate universes, time travel, and other related stuff.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it?
I watched Sliding Doors (film) at a very young age, and have been fascinated with alternate universes, and through that, with sci-fi, ever since.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived.
That Sci-fi is always exactly like something else, IN SPACE.
That energy weapons are more effective in real life.
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value?
Amanda Tapping's mouth moves. It's pretty. TBH, the kind of science needed for most sci-fi: FTL, wormholes, alternate universes and time travel being examples, are all so beyond actual science, even high-level actual science, that it's impossible to 'accurately' portray it.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
All of them. Sci-fi can be a good story with all sorts of genres - comedy, action - but simply with cool tech.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why?
IN SPACE/THE FUTURE, women/minorities are treated better since future!people are more tolerant than people now. Will sci-fi ever give up green-skinned space babes? Probably not, but it still serves to show the kind of tolerance that characters we like and respect have, and so what we should be working towards in that area.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why?
They are, essentially, us. Put us in the future, give us some future!lingo, and they're us. Sci-fi is about moral dilemmas WE face. If some wierd people very different from us are the only ones facing them, we can't relate, and the point of sci-fi is lost.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why?
Same as above - the people are just us, put in a different situation, with different people, and relationships form based on that.
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why?
First, things tend to be more dramatic IN SPACE.
On a slightly less shallow note, contempory works take our world and introduce a few people in it. Sci-fi works have to create an entire universe which can make the story feel much more immersive and dramatic. The majority of my shows are sci-fi.
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add? This was really helpful - I'm doing sci-fi for general studies, and it was good to get my thoughts in order. :)
Part I
Date: 2009-10-13 05:11 pm (UTC)What is science fiction to you? How would you define it? To me, sci-fi means stories that are theoretically possible (e.g. in a distant future), that can be happen once science has made a big enough leap. (Contrary to fantasy, that is, because fantasy deals with things, people, creatures that don't exist, never have existed, will never exist.)
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it? I'm usually not all that interested in sci-fi because from what I've seen so far, it's mostly science talk combined with odd creatures/aliens. And I'm all about the characters, so I don't care for aliens or technobabble that I don't understand anyway.
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it? I have somewhat changed my mind. I used to watch Star Trek: TOS when I was a child, 'cause my mum watched it. And while I still find the old episodes amusing, it's not something I'd say I love. And then the X-Files came along, but I didn't watch these for the sci-fi part, but for the characters. And other than that, I've mostly stayed away from sci-fi, but in the recent past have started picking up a few shows again, like Sanctuary, because I've learned to accept the 'strange creatures' and just focus on the characters.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived.
Well, for one, I've learned that not ALL sci-fi shows have hundreds of different 'races'. That's one of the things I never liked, because I just can't remember all the different aliens and what they did to each other. Which is why I wasn't willing to give ANY sci-fi show a try, not even Battlestar Galactica, until I finally asked someone how many different races there were (in hope of it being only a few, so I'd be able to remember them), only to be told there was just the Humans and the Cylons. And when I then started watching it, I was, as you well know, blown away, and somewhat annoyed at myself that I'd waited this long to start watching. However, it kind of made me be more open towards new sci-fi shows, so I then began watching Sanctuary and fell in love with it right away, despite the different creatures. Yeah, I think that's my main misconception, I guess. And when it comes to others, especially people who don't like sci-fi at ALL, I think a lot of them think sci-fi is JUST about aliens, and JUST about special effects and explosions and action. But it's not. It doesn't have to be. Anyway, that's something that really annoys me, when people say they won't watch a show just because it's sci-fi.
Part II
Date: 2009-10-13 05:12 pm (UTC)What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any? Oh god, just about everything? I mean, you know me and my love for Battlestar. There's about a million other genres in that show. From law show over political drama to soap opera. Everything you could ever imagine. So I guess that doesn't count, does it? Other than that... Well, I'd say a lot of sci-fi shows (as far as I know, both from personal experience and from reading about them) are also about politics and/or social issues. And all of them include soap opera-ish parts, especially when it comes to relationships and possible relationship triangles. Other than that, action and/or thriller obviously play huge parts in sci-fi shows, because without them, even the best sci-fi show would be incredibly boring. Some sci-fi shows are also comedies, but all of them definitely contain angst in one way or another.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why? Ummm, again, I think that depends, this time mostly on when the shows were made. Thinking back to Star Trek: TOS, aside from Uhura, they had almost no female crew, and certainly no female protagonists other than the women that fell for Captain Kirk. So yeah, more chauvinist than feminist there. But nowadays, I'd say, women and men are treated equally in sci-fi. Maybe women even have the stronger roles, for example in Battlestar, all the powerful, strong characters (aside from Commander/Admiral Adama) are women: Laura Roslin, the President, Kara Thrace, the best pilot in the fleet, Admiral Cain, the highest-ranking military (wo)man, at least for a short while, Sharon Valerii, the most human Cylon and the first one who makes her own choice. So yeah, aside from the Commander, his whiny son and his drunk XO, all women. Then there's other women you hear about, even if you don't watch the shows they're in. Sam Carter, Elizabeth Weir, Helen Magnus, Ashley Magnus, for that matter, etc etc etc.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why? Oi, this could take a while. I... am all about the characters, no matter what genre. And it all depends on how well crafted the characters are. Some are rather dull, especially in older shows that deal more with the action/thriller aspect of sci-fi, because there's almost no backstory to most of them. Then there are others, and I just have to mention Laura Roslin in this, and Helen Magnus, and Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Gaius Baltar. And countless more. All of these have a huge backstory that's only revealed in the course of the show, sometimes only at the very end, and if that's the case, then I don't care what the genre is, I'll love the show and characters anyway. Another thing that I've noticed is that sci-fi shows are rarely led by only one or two people. Even XF gave Mulder and Scully several rather important sidekicks, even though they're still the exception to my rule. In general, most sci-fi shows have a lot of characters, and the focus shifts in the course of the series.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why? Ships. I have them in every show. However, from my experience, ships in sci-fi shows take longer to happen because they're not the focus of the show, contrary to, let's say, drama shows where ships make up a huge deal of the actual plot (Grey's Anatomy, anyone?). Therefore, when they DO happen, sci-fi ships feel more... natural to me. In general, the entire concept of sci-fi shows feels more... thought through, as if the creators / writers already knew exactly what they'd been planning. There are less 180s (best example: House/Cameron vs House/Cuddy) and the shows in their entirety feel more complete, more in harmony, compared to other shows.
Part III
Date: 2009-10-13 05:13 pm (UTC)Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add? I... No. I think I got a little carried away. Sorry. Oh, one thing though! This does not apply to sci-fi films, my views on those are completely different.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-14 03:21 am (UTC)Science fiction for me is anything set in space. Anything that introduces something unlikely to happen in our world but is still set in our world so it's not exactly a fantasy.
What interests you about sci-fi? Alternatively what disinterests you about it?
I love space! And people with weird or freaky powers. And aliens. And badass women who run entire planets and lead armies. And hot men who fly spaceships. Not much disinterests me. Unless the show is just bad (i.e. Heroes now)
Have you always liked/disliked sci-fi and why/why not? What changed your mind if you didn't always like it?
I can always remember liking it. I started early watching TNG and was about 11-12 when introduced to Star Wars. I liked the science-fictiony kids shows (like Alex Mack) growing up.
What misconceptions have you come across about sci-fi? These can be misconceptions you made yourself and later learned the reality for or things other people have misconceived.
That only boys like it and that if you like it you're a big giant dork. I never once told people I went to high school with how much I loved Star Wars or that I was obsessed with Star Trek Voyager and Babylon 5. I never let anyone see that I read Star Wars books.
Does the science part of sci-fi shows have importance to you in your viewing and if so, to what extent? Does it affect the entertainment value?
It depends. As long as it's interesting and important to the plot than it's important to me.
What other genres do you think sci-fi shows include, if any?
I think that romance is a big sub-genre of sci-fi. There's always a romantic pairing.
In your opinion, does sci-fi promote feminism and/or any similar issues and why?
I know there are certain sections of fandom who would disagree and say that sci-fi sucks and promoting feminism and blah blah it's the same old horrid treatment of women but I disagree. When I was growing up I didn't want to be like some stupid character in a teen soap. I wanted to be Leia Organa. I wanted to be in space, kick ass, and be super smart and awesome. They were women not just defined by their relationships to men. B'Elanna Torres wasn't just Tom Paris' girl friend. She was Chief Engineer who could do awesome things with the warp corp and kick the bad guy's ass.
What is your opinion on the characters of sci-fi shows and why?
They're just like other characters in that I love some and I hate some. I'd need a specific character to have an opinion. There's always the cocky but with a secret heart of gold hero. I am almost always a fan of this character. I'm a sucker for it.
What is your opinion on the relationships in sci-fi shows and why?
Almost all of my OTPs of OTPdom comes from sci-fi shows. For whatever it reason it seems the sci-fi shows I've watched and liked (the Stargate franchise being the obvious fucking annoying exception) are a lot less leery of having a (mostly) functioning romantic relationship between a male and female.
As entertainment, how does sci-fi rate for you against other shows and why?
I will be more inclined to give a new sci-fi show a shot before any other genre type show. Unfortunately, network tv rarely has straight up sci-fi and when it does it doesn't last long.
Do you have anything else relevant to this survey to add?
Nope.