Speculative Fiction & Reality

Concluding the fall quarter with Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower, one of my biggest takeaways from this science fiction novel is that the only constant aspect of the world is change. Through the perspective of the main character, Lauren, we see how her neighbors continue to cling to old constructs and live in denial of the change that has happened to their community. Their resistance to change that Lauren experiences promotes the continuation of societal issues that Butler mirrors with the real world such as racism, sexism, and the ignorance towards economic and climate change. While change occurs to everyone, Butler implements that those who survive it must choose to adapt to change and be resilient in order to reach their goals. Without change, there is no worldbuilding.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy and illustrated by John Jennings.

In a Galaxy Far, Far Away... or not

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) directed by George Lucas

Directed by George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was first released in theaters across the United States in 1977 and quickly popularized to become an iconic part of today’s pop culture. While this science-fictional media franchise heavily follows the tradition of good versus evil, triumph doesn’t come easy as the characters must face challenges in order to succeed. The original trilogy presents a galaxy that is ruled under an Empire whose dictatorship results in the oppression of individuals under their power. Although Star Wars utilizes the aspect of futuristic technologies like lightsabers and spaceships, the overall aesthetic is reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s. As one of Star Wars’ main themes revolves around hope, this connection to the real world serves as a critique of how today’s society functions. As hope is the main drive towards the continuation of the rebellion, the rebellion’s main purpose is to create change and better the lives of individuals living within the Galaxy. Star Wars continues to be one of my favorite franchises as the characters encourages perseverance in times of hardship which I relate to especially while being in such a stressful environment such as college. These films promote an optimistic view that if we want to experience change in the world, we must create it.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Fahrenheit 451: Fiction or Future?

Published in 1953, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 presents a futuristic society in which technology has negatively altered how it functions. The government in the novel presents censorship of information through the banning of books as they burn them to restrict citizen access to them. While the ideas of this dystopian novel seemed far-fetched in the 1950s, it eerily predicts some aspects of our society today. From the seashell radios that we call Bluetooth headphones to digital social networking, the alternative reality that Bradbury pessimistically describes in his speculative narrative has the possibility of becoming our future with the recent rise and utilization of technology.

Reflection:

Compared to the beginning of the fall quarter, I definitely think that my confidence has grown in terms of expressing my personality and thoughts in my digital archive. This course has really allowed me to improve my ability to further analyze information shared in the lectures as English classes in high school don’t particularly focus on teaching students this skill. Through the different activities, I believe that I figured out the creative aspects and artistic direction that I want my archive to take in future quarters. I think one of the connections that I’ve never made until now is the similarities between worlds presented in science fiction and the one we’re currently living in. Originally reading Fahrenheit 451 in my sophomore year of high school, I never noticed how reminiscent the fictional world in the novel is of the world that we live in today. While I have definitely gotten better at making connections between the assigned readings and other aspects of the world, I think that there is always room for improvement so that is something I look forward to doing next quarter.

Works Cited:

Duffy, Damian, et al. Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation. Abrams ComicArts, 2021.

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