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Born as a reflection of our waking reality, Science Fiction is more than just a mere futuristic view of life as we know it, but it acts as a warning of it.
The Science Fiction Genre has been a pivotal one in human history. While some often credit Mary Shelley‘s 1818 novel ‘Frankenstein’ as the first true science fiction novel, themes, and tropes that are characteristic of modern science fiction can be traced to the 2nd-century novel ‘Verae Historiae’ or ‘A True Story’ by Syrian satirist Lucian of Samosata. Regardless, this speculative fiction has evolved alongside humanity, drawing inspiration from its technological advancement to focus on potential scientific advancements to explore complex societal issues, philosophical questions, and humanity’s potential future.
Many, especially nowadays, see Science Fiction as a mere entertainment genre that alongside fantasy acts as a form of escapism. Yet, upon further analysis, it can function as a tool of reflection upon our everyday existence and potential future. Working as a way to illuminate the complexities of human nature, challenging us to confront questions about morality, identity, and the consequences of our actions.
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The Multifaced Genre
Science fiction stands as one of the most imaginative genres. Standing as one of the most popular genres in the entertainment industry, making it an umbrella term, one that holds an evergrowing amount of subgenres that go from Space Opera to the lesser-known Silkpunk. Each has its own take and lessons of our reality.
Nowadays being overshadowed by the highly popular Cyberpunk and the Post-Apocalyptic genre, the Steampunk genre has seen a roller coaster in popularity and relevance in media. Despite the term “steampunk” not being coined until 1987 by author K. W. Jeter in a letter to Locus magazine, The genre emerged sometime after The Industrial Revolution, with Jules Verne and H.G. Wells often considered the fathers of steampunk with Verne’s 1864 ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ and Wells’ 1888 short story ‘The Chronic Argonauts’ first describing team-powered technology and other core elements on the genre,
While many would see it as just an astonishing aesthetic inspired by Victorian-era technology, but as part of a group of subgenres that center on rebellion and social alienation, Steampunk works often include themes related to social reforms and the harmful nature of political and economic systems. This is greatly seen in the 1995 film ‘The City of Lost Children’. This hauntingly surreal film about a mad scientist who kidnaps children to steal their dreams explores themes like identity and the possible deplorable effects of capitalism, playing with the idea that the escapism that dreams can offer is often directly linked to youth and happiness. The piece teaches audiences the importance of dreams and childhood innocence, all while reminding us about the destructive consequences of exploiting children for personal gain.
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The Children Around the World Continue to Ask the question
In more recent times Historical-inspired science fiction subgenres have shown a rise in popularity, with shows like ‘The Flintstones’ and ‘The Jetsons’ being iconic headliners of the Stonepunk and Atompunk, respectively. One genre that saw a boom during the late 80s to early 90s and has maintained itself in popularity is the Alternate History subgenre. Having its thematic origins traced to the last years of the 15th century in Joanot Martorell’s 1495 chivalric romance novel ‘Tirant lo Blanch’, Alternate History plays in the very human question of “What would’ve happened if…?” reminding us how even our slightest of actions can affect history and how close humanity has truly been from having a completely different existence.
A good example of this is shown in Amazon‘s 2015 show ‘The Man in The High Castle’ based on the 1962 book of the same name by Philip K. Dick, where the Axis powers won World War II after the assassination attempt on Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 by Giuseppe Zangara was successful, leading to Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan dividing rule of the United States territory. This one explores the effects that totalitarianism can have on a society, profoundly challenging moral and ethical dilemmas. It teaches us about the fragility of our reality, reminding audiences that hope and resilience can prevail in the face of any rough situation.
Mirror of Our Waking Reality
Ever since its beginnings Science Fiction and its Subgenres, in one way or another, mirror our reality. Whether it is a dystopian world where global infertility brings the end of humanity as seen in Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Children of Men’ or a society where the pursuit of eternal youth is prioritized leading to citizens being forced to end their lives at a predetermined age as shown on 1976’s ‘Logan’s Run’, reflecting our deepest fears, or most profound hopes, and our intensive desires for control over the uncontrollable.
Through the intricate worlds that it fosters, Science Fiction delves into the complexities of our contemporary society, diving into the cracks in our consciousness to reveal uncomfortable truths about our existential limitations. All while at the same fostering incredible amounts of creativity and storytelling that have inspired every generation, allowing this beautiful and important art to never die.
By combining human societies, our desire for endless technological advancements, actual science, and knowledge of our reality’s history, Science Fiction creates realistic speculations about specific scenarios. Exploring the implications and imperfections of technological and societal changes in the human experience, it paints a vivid tapestry of resonance and wonder, igniting curiosity about what lies beyond our present understanding. Urging us to reflect on our potential as human beings and how the choices we make today could shape the world of tomorrow.
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A Profound Alteration in The System
Over the past few years, a shift in the Genre’s diversity and focal points has been more noticeable in Motion Media. What once acted as a creative glass to reflect on a reality with a window to a possible future, has diverged into a more fantasy-driven warning of life’s course. Seemingly centering on either the dangers of our existent technology or as a mere spectacle that has left some subgenres forgotten in the past.
A field change that has grown a tad bit narrower is that one of the Settings, with the centuries and millenniums seen in ‘Dune’ slowly turning into near futures that span decades. Aesthetics from the past like those seen in Gothic Punk and Dieselpunk have maintained themselves in literature despite making impacts in Cinema history, giving more protagonism to, Dystopian and post-apocalyptic sceneries.
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This is primarily because of the rapid evolution of technology humanity has seen in recent years. What past industrial revolutions did in half a century has taken us a mere decade and a half, in a single year millions of patents are filed and a major discovery feels to happen every other week. We’ve grown used to our reality evolving at an exponential rate making us worry less about a far future and more towards the next couple of years. As a result, themes centered on machinery gaining self-consciousness, and fears of an impending apocalypse hold the charts at a grasp.
Science Fiction has left a profound imprint on the entertainment industry, one that sinks deeper each passing year. A genre that despite having temporary moments of monotony still has a lot to offer hidden in its always-growing amount of subgenres, much of which have maintained itself in the literary world. It teaches us that innovation is born from curiosity, reminding audiences that no matter how much of how fast we develop as a society, it’s our imagination that propels us forward, shaping the worlds we dream of before we make them real.
By Mario Martinez Ignacio
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Mario Martinez Ignacio is a writer from Mexico City. As a child, he spent most of his free time deep-diving into online wikis, which sparked a passion for lore and worldbuilding. Driven by his love for writing, Mario obtained a BFA in Dramatic Writing at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2024. With the objective of inspiring others, he fuses writing and education to create narratives that entertain while igniting curiosity and fostering new perspectives, one word at a time.
Mario Martinez Ignacio is a writer from Mexico City. As a child, he spent most of his free time deep-diving into online wikis, which sparked a passion for lore and worldbuilding. Driven by his love for writing, Mario obtained a BFA in Dramatic Writing at the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2024. With the objective of inspiring others, he fuses writing and education to create narratives that entertain while igniting curiosity and fostering new perspectives, one word at a time.
