Abstract:

This essay will explore the use of religion in Sci-fi texts. Specifically, it will explore if the religious aspects limit the audience of the genre; does it become a genre specifically for the religious? The essay will explore different interpretations of different texts to demonstrate how the use of religion opens up the genre to a wider audience by appealing to the non-religious and the religious. Each example will show how different interpretations of religious symbols can be seen as both positive and negative, thus appealing to everybody.

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Donovan Valle
ENG 2420- Science Fiction
Prof. Jill Belli
Project 2

Exploration: A Look into the Relationship Between Electronic Music and Science Fiction

Abstract

There is no denying the lasting power and influence that electronic music has had on popular culture. It is evident today in hip hop and dance music. However, many do not know that the early roots of electronic music can be traced back to science fiction film. It is because of sci-fi films that early experimentalists of music and technology were able to push the boundaries of machines that could create and perform music. Electronic instruments that were developed in the early to mid 1900’s like the theremin and the modular synthesizer created the music and sounds that have since been directly associated with early science fiction film. These new instruments were able to enhance the themes and concepts that were present in the films like robots, aliens, and flying saucers.

Throughout this essay, the impact of science fiction on electronic music will be clear through film examples such as “Forbidden Planet” and “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” The exploration and implementation of electronic instruments into musical film scores paved the way for musicians to do it in their own work. It will also be shown that there is a clear bilateral relationship between sci-fi and electronic music. Not only was the music able to enhance the settings, characters, themes, and ideas present in the films, but the genre gave commercial artists like David Bowie and Pink Floyd new ways to record and present their record and present music to their fans.

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Prezi presentation can be found via this link
http://prezi.com/fh3ye3dny2nz/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Abstract

The Write-Up attached along with the presentation shows how music or musical scores can change the human mind’s perception of a science fiction film, television show, or video game and how the musical score can amplify the person’s emotions when watching, or interacting with it. Moreover, it shows how someone watching a science fiction entertainment work of art can have different thoughts on major plot points in the story when the music is alongside the motion picture, rather than having it muted. Some examples that are used to support this are from famous and almost famous science fiction shows, films, and games such as, Battlestar: Galactica, Halo: Reach, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Stargate: Universe. Also, the process of producing these scores are introduced, such as becoming the main character or target character, so it makes it much easier to see the unknown world, but also the fact of how difficult it can get when going through the actual design process. Evidence, such as an interview with professional composer, Joel Goldsmith, son of famous Star Trek composer, Jerry Goldsmith, is also introduced, where he briefly describes the difficulty of it and how bad it can really get.

Something else that is briefly described is the other side of that coin, and how the science fiction genre has influenced music in a way that it also created widely known musical genres, for example, electronic and Dubstep, among others. Along with it is some evidence from a site that had a list of The 15 Greatest Science Fiction-Based Pop/Rock Songs by Sean T. Collins, instead of using this list, what was used was the thorough description that was at the top of the page.

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Presentation

NOTICE: The power point presentation was to large because videos are included. Instead I’ve uploaded them to my OneDrive and assigned the files to a link above. You should also download the videos too because the PPT will probably not function properly without it.

Abstract – Frank Herbert’s Dune Chronicles is an expansive universe that has many themes that are seen in scientific literature. A major theme seen throughout is the theme of control. The Bene Gesserit is a group of women who exert control over others using many techniques. They strong female characters exhibit superhuman like powers and use these abilities to further their goal. Of their many abilities, their “Voice” ability is a very powerful tool in their repertoire The use of Spice as well as “religious engineering” are also used to further their goal which is to create a male equivalent to their order.. This paper will discuss the use of these tools as well as make comparisons to other literary works that also deal with issues of control, and research that supports this idea.

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Videos don’t seem to work with PPT on Openlab, so here are the two shorts linked via YouTube.

The Voice Scene

A Scanner Darkly Scene