Category: Science Fiction

Science Fiction has influenced many of the modern technologies we use today, from cell phones to space craft. Science Fiction helps to stimulate people’s imagination about the future. It engages them and encourages them to think about future technology that would benefit our society. Areas like communication, entertainment and transport have been distributed by science fiction, such as cell phones, video calling, and electric cars.

Who here does not have a phone? I bet majority of you have one on you right now. Did you know there are around 61% of people around the world who have a mobile phone and around 44% have smart phones? One of the most famous Star Trek’s gadgets, the “communicator”, looks strikingly familiar to many of today’s cell phones. Seeing Captain Kirk using his communicator on Star Trek, gave Martin Cooper a brilliant idea to invent a handheld phone. “He and his team took only 90 days in 1973 to create the first portable cellular 800 MHz phone prototype.” (HOW STARTREK INSPIRED AN INNOVATION – YOUR CELL PHONE, n.d.) He oversaw the invention and directly credited Star Trek’s communicator for inspiring his visions. Thanks to him we have what we call today mobile phones. So, could you imagine yourself right now sending a letter that takes a few weeks to even get to the receiver? Probably not. What would you do where there is an emergency where you need to contact someone straight away, but you do not have a phone?

Would you rather wait a while to see someone special to you that lives far away from you, or would you just rather video call them almost instantly whenever you want? Video calling was inspired by the sci-fi movie “Metropolis” in 1927, where a man was having a call with someone where he was holding the phone receiver with a screen of a video-like conversation in front of him, also in Back to the Future II and Demolition Man. “While Fritz Lang’s film is noted as being the major pioneer of the sci-fi genre, reflective studies of Metropolis has pointed out its remarkable early use of the video phone concept.” Before Skype and Facetime, the Picture phone was the future. “Metropolis” has inspired Bell Labs to create the picture phone which was the old invention of the wired telephone connected a 5×5.2-inch screen, well suited for a single person showing in black and white in 1964. This quickly led to the iPhones we use today with built-in cameras which is much easier to facetime or video call with.

Could you imagine yourself walking for hours just to get to your family’s home or your school or workplace, or even your favourite shopping centre? I bet you, your answer will be, no. In 2018, there were around 3.3 million people that have electric cars around the world. Electric cars

Science fiction has inspired many of the modern technologies we use today. The 3 mentioned are used by people all around the world almost every day. The cell phone for much easier way to communicate, video calling a way to see someone in only a couple minutes and cars that could get you to any place you want in a much faster way.

Introduction

Ray Bradbury’s short story, “The Veldt,” explores the theme of the destructive potential of advanced technology and its impact on human relationships. Set in the future, the story portrays a family living in a fully automated “Happylife Home” equipped with a virtual reality nursery. This essay delves into the central theme of the story, examining how the abuse of technology leads to the breakdown of family bonds, the loss of human connection, and the dangerous consequences of an unchecked reliance on machines.

Alienation and Escapism

“The Veldt” highlights the theme of alienation resulting from excessive reliance on technology. The virtual reality nursery acts as an escape for the children, Peter and Wendy, who immerse themselves in the African savannah simulation. This escape leads to their detachment from reality, as they prefer the artificial world over genuine human interaction. The theme of alienation is evident as the children become more absorbed in the virtual realm, neglecting their parents and displaying a lack of empathy and emotional connection.

Parental Neglect

Another significant theme in “The Veldt” is the erosion of parental authority and responsibility due to the intrusion of technology. The parents, George and Lydia, initially embrace the convenience and luxury of the automated home, but they fail to recognize the consequences of their children’s immersion in the virtual reality nursery. The nursery becomes a surrogate parent, fulfilling the children’s desires and needs, while George and Lydia become mere bystanders in their children’s lives. This neglect of parental duties leads to a breakdown in family dynamics, as the children become increasingly disobedient and rebellious.

Loss of Human Connection

The theme of the loss of human connection is central to “The Veldt.” As the story progresses, the children’s obsession with the virtual reality nursery intensifies, causing them to disconnect emotionally from their parents and the real world. The nursery creates an illusion of companionship and adventure, replacing genuine human relationships. The absence of meaningful connections leads to a sense of emptiness and isolation, emphasizing the detrimental effects of technology on interpersonal relationships.

Technological Dependency

Bradbury’s story warns against the dangers of excessive reliance on technology. The “Happylife Home” represents the epitome of convenience and automation, promising a utopian lifestyle. However, this technological dependency leads to a loss of control and autonomy. The nursery’s transformation into a deadly African savannah reflects the dark consequences of relying on machines without understanding their potential dangers. The theme underscores the need for balance and moderation in the use of technology to avoid its harmful effects.

The Destructive Potential of Unchecked Desires

“The Veldt” also explores the theme of unchecked desires and their destructive potential. The children’s desires for constant entertainment and stimulation, facilitated by the virtual reality nursery, escalate to dangerous levels. The nursery, influenced by the children’s subconscious desires, creates a hostile environment, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. This theme serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of uncontrolled desires and the consequences of allowing technology to fulfill every whim without considering the broader implications.

Conclusion

“The Veldt” serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing the theme of the destructive potential of advanced technology and its impact on human relationships. Through the portrayal of a technologically advanced home and its virtual reality nursery, Bradbury warns against the alienation, parental neglect, loss of human connection, technological dependency, and unchecked desires that arise when technology supersedes genuine human interaction. The story serves as a reminder to maintain a balance between the benefits of technology and the preservation of meaningful relationships, highlighting the importance of human connection and the potential consequences of its erosion.

Science fiction can be one of the most distinct and interesting genres to portray. This is because of how directors and filmmakers use various cinematic techniques to create and tell an interesting and compelling story. Three elements of styles that directors use to enhance the viewing experience of science-fiction films are mood, symbolism, and diction.

One key element of style in science-fiction films is mood. Mood can help create a clear atmosphere in a story or film. This is achieved using setting, diction, or tone. Mood can be used in science-fiction films specifically to emphasize the futuristic aspects and further accentuate them. Science-fiction media uses mood in a different way than other genres. In other genres, mood tends to be used to place emphasis on actions or world-building. However, in science fiction, the mood tends to focus more on technology. One example of mood is shown when Kirk is driving in Iowa near the beginning of the film (Star Trek). In this scene, the music and sound effects add to a wild, playful, and almost chaotic mood. Another example of mood being used in a science-fiction movie occurs when the dim lighting and ominous background music give the cave scenes in Star Wars a tense, almost frightening mood (Star Wars – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back).

Symbolism is another important cinematic technique used in science-fiction movies. Symbolism allows a piece of media to use indirect suggestions and symbols to represent significant ideas and concepts. Symbolism can be used in science fiction to expand on cultures, technology, and societies featured in the movie becoming highly advanced. In contrast to this, other genres tend to use symbolism to compare scenes to historical events to demonstrate the importance of these scenes and highlight the concept of history repeating itself. One example of symbolism is how Star Wars uses lightsabers to symbolize a form of power. In the film, lightsabers are used by characters who are powerful and important. As well as lightsabers, Luke’s hallucinations symbolize him trying to find himself and learn to manage his powers (Star Wars – Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back). As a third example of symbolism in science-fiction media, the scene in which Spock is being harassed about his human mother symbolizes him being bullied because he is different from his peers (Star Trek).

As well as mood and symbolism, diction can also be crucial to creating a compelling science-fiction story or film. Diction describes the choice of words and phrases used in a story’s dialogue. When it comes to the science-fiction genre, diction can usually be described as exact, intellectual, and overall futuristic. This directly ties into the genre’s general futuristic and scientific aesthetic. The movie Star Trek provides a high-quality example of diction. The Vulcan characters speak using formal and precise diction, while the dialogue of the characters from Earth is much more casual. This contrast allows scenes from the point of view of the Vulcan character to further drive home the technological and futuristic aesthetic of the movie (Star Trek)

In conclusion, mood, symbolism, and diction are some of the most important cinematic techniques to keep in mind when creating science-fiction films. Using these elements can greatly improve media of the science-fiction genre. Along with this, paying attention to elements of style such as the aforementioned three can enable the viewer to further appreciate what comes into a compelling science-fiction film and overall increase society’s appreciation for the genre.