THE STUDY OF TODAY'S SCIENCE FICTION BEING TOMORROW'S SCIENCE
The Scientific-Literature (Sci-Fi) in relationship with Man
Under
this topic, we shall be considering science in its creative phenomenon in
relation to literature of untrue stories that touches humanity, scientific and
technological innovation and the undebatable sense of reasoning that suggests the fact that some of these
fictitious stories are somewhat, if not definitely true to nature. This is confirmed in the sense that the creativity
or inspiratory senses of the authors of science fiction are purely visional and
revelation they get, which are probably not known to them before
and after
inception. Furthermore, you can agree
with me that the yesterday’s computer
science fiction is today’s computer science. How? There were stories of the
past that revealed the past ages writing of unrealistic thoughts, yet those
thing seen as unrealistic later became realistic or better still a magic to the
world. Though. It’s no magic but a reality to consider for the mysteries behind nature. As a result, numerous materials in regards to
the topic were earlier known as untrue stories but humanity made the untrue
stories true stories through the act of the same creativity, but in a more
advanced interpretation of the earlier said vision that made them write.
Therefore, let us ride on to see the revelation of the fictitious-reality.
What is science fiction?
1. Science
fiction is the writing and acting which combines science and fiction, that is,
untrue stories.
2. To
a layman, science fiction, popularly known as Sci-Fi is any story, drama,
movie, play or any other expressive thought that deals with scientific
innovation, narrated in such a way that it could never be true to nature. As
the name implies; fiction is any
expression that is not real. Lovers of literature would love to read stories
known as fiction; which means that such stories are just written as a product
of creativity and did not actually happen.
In a slight contradiction, the writers do get their inspiration from the
reality of nature and things that happens around humanity and decorate a
community of acceptable false-reality out of it. A clear picture of Sci-Fi
story is expressed below with reference to a movie
3. It
deals on both the creation and recreation of community through man’s
intelligence, scientific, artistic and philosophical initiative; to bring into
existence certain futuristic society having some elements of truth, through
creative assumption; with power naturally bestowed on him. Some of his
creations as long as science fiction is concerned include:
·
Time settings in the future with
alternative time line narration: which travels through the future, to the
present, past and back to future.
·
Alternative history or contradictory
history
·
Special settings like other planets,
underwater, beneath the earth surface or even places that never existed;
sometimes, the earth.
·
Transmigration of souls
·
Dystopian post-scarcity
·
Consequence of scientific innovation
·
Spirits, computers, human and other
human-like elements
·
And others, not mentioned.
In
concurrence with the above, science fiction is a brand of fantasy identified by the fact that it eases the “willing
suspension of disbelief” on the part of its readers and viewer by utilizing an
atmosphere of scientific credibility for its imaginative speculation in
physical science, space and time, social science and philosophy. Moreover, a good science fiction story is
about human being, with a human problem and solution, which would
not have happened at all without its scientific
contents.
The
term which suggests that the topic eases willingness
of suspension of disbelieve means that the reader, audience or viewers as
the case may be, sees those untrue stories as reality and true to nature. In
other words, they willingly suspend the fact that such stories or movies are
not real in order to derive enjoyment; as a result, people easily believe in a
movie that a cooking utensil when connected to some electric current and other
scientific applications would definitely be in the position to interact to each
other in the absent mindedness of the users, even in the presence of the said
users. Some writers of the subject
matter drives their wheel to the extent of letting readers believe the fact
that their narration could actually happen.
My
question is this: Why is it always science fiction, why not any other fiction
or art fiction? This question arises as a result of how science fiction is
embraced in the society today; even though it is fiction (may come to pass
someday), I come to discover that more than 60% of readers and viewers cherish
this genre of scientific-literature so much; which exposes, with prediction,
belief, feelings and conviction the creation of community of the futuristic
technology which from present tells what the future is and further to the past,
present and back to the future. More so,
people are mesmerized by the technicality of the narrator, as such, sees the
subject matter interesting. Sometimes, a
scary fiction of the subject matter; such as dystopian post- scarcity; which
might evolve as a result of fuel scarcity; giving rise to intra- and
extra-country war which would wipe the entire earth and leave little or no
persons in agony; arouses tension and resulting to real tears on readers or
viewers. This is because, the story
seems real to them. In fact, writers of
science fiction makes it real enough to arouse fears on the society when it
comes to tragedy; which reveals catharsis
(purging of emotional tensions) in literature.
Today’s computer science fiction is
tomorrow’s computer science
(Scientific believe concerning the
Future…)
Whatsoever
it may be, science fiction is real and real enough to break doubts that
strongly contradicts its reality; as long as scientific innovation, literature,
strong imagination, creation and visional predictions of the subject is
concerned. In regards to when space
travel has not been found, amidst the existence of science; who would say in
assurance that one day, astronauts could discover and travel to space? But today, such is the order of the day. Space travelling is no longer a new
phenomenon. Though, it might once be
seen as a science fiction.
Secondly, under-water travel vehicles was also seen as a science
fiction; with doubts that a ship could travel beneath the surface of a
sea. But today, it’s a day-to-day practice. Thirdly, the airplane. It might have also been taken as science
fiction, where people might have asked: “how a fish-like vehicle could be used
as a transport medium and also have the ability to fly up the sky in a few time
to a farer distance? In fact, this is not possible!” Interestingly, we travel on fish-like vehicles
today. All these were
yesterday’s science fiction, which is today’s science. That is
the reality of science fiction am talking about. Man, with an ordinary background eyes will
view science fiction writings as not-true-to nature: but the way I see it, most
science fiction are always real and should not be taken for entertainment
alone. It is real in the sense that man,
being a tool of strong imagination and creativity have seen it in his visional
and inspiratory sense, as prophets do.
Therefore, I see science fictional writers as science fiction prophets
because, something must have inspired and aroused them to write. Such things are somewhat the reality
intending to happen in future but not known to them (the writers). Moreover, man is capable, as nature awarded
him, to make that which he imagines to be real.
Therefore, if any science fiction could not be achieved as a product of
conceptual and intellectual elements of man that means, the executor of such
creation and imagination is not yet born, and once he is born, the fiction will
repent to non-fiction. During the early
times of science and technology, when basic computer were used as a mere
calculating machine, no one could believe it that one day, computer would take
over the world where certain functions are now voice-coded and reciprocates
with the users. But, this was also a
science fiction, where people must have also said: “Ah! Is this man alright?
How could he say that sometime in the future one would be orally communicating
with his car, so that it takes him wherever he wish or even ask a question to a
device and it responds, it is not possible”.
It wouldn’t have been possible if the inventor was not born; but as long
as he was born, it had come to pass.
Similarly, there are numerous science fiction stories today that will eventually
come to be. I say, when the inventor is
born, they would come to be; am totally convinced. Remember, it was the same scientific and
technological advancement that made cloning of animals with another’s cell
possible. In the past, it was a fiction. Really, it must have been difficult for
people to believe the fact that someday, through science and technology,
animals (generally) could be made as products of original cells through
cloning.
One
thing with Science fiction is that it knows no time. It starts from the future
and travel to the present, to the past and back to the present. It moves like a
magic. If there is no concentration in reading or watching a science fiction
story or movie, there would be no comprehension because of the mystery of time
travel involved. Secondly, sometime,
humans are not involved in such stories because of the name and to captivate
the minds of the reader and interest them to read. The readers in the other
hand would be seen asking questions on how such thing could be or could make a
story, yet they enjoy it a lot.
The
acronym SCI-FI suggest the following:
S- SCIENTIFIC
C- CREATIVITY
with
I – IMAGINATION
of
F- FICTION
(to see the future) and
I – INSPIRE man
towards reality.
The
acronym SCI-FI above explains itself to be a creative idea of scientific nature
of unrealistic (fiction) painting of the future, through prediction and strong
visional thought to inspire the people and believing that it is real.
[[
Case study: A movie – Terminator
(The movie is an example of science fiction, which relates to man)
The
movie; Terminator; written by Brad Fiedel painted a community of
interaction between human and Robots; though, there exist two main robots
heroes: a male and a female. The male is
the protagonist while the female is the antagonist; who tried to terminate and
the former saves. Similarly; there exist
two human heroes – Nick Stanl, as John Connor and Claire Danes as Kate Brewster; both were the subject of
revolvement. The actions in the movie
revolved on both of them, in such that the terminator seek for their lives to
terminate, while the Robotic protagonist is programmed to save their lives: as
such, technology fought amidst human existence for and against human. This is just the narrative view point of Nick Stanl; on how 2032 would be: his narration was made in the present; though, came
to an extent deviated to the past and back to the present. According to the movie, the male Robot made
it known to the human heroes that he killed him on July 4th 2032; that is the future yet to come, while the hero in
question is still alive.
In
the movie, the skynet, that is, robotic machines bounced on their builder,
programmers, users and as well as the entire World. Similarly, some of the robots which were used
for human favour were seen fighting their owners with ammunition; as a result of
being contaminated by certain virus: which made them resist from being shut
down. As such, the robotic machine took
over the World and that is exactly the “consequence of scientific innovation
and the bad side of spirit of computer”, especially that of computers and
robotic machine. This story, being a fiction gives insight on the tomorrow’s
computer innovation and how horrified it would be. Though many may not think the way it is here
but that contributes to the fact that it’s end-time revelation that would come
to be.
Reflection of thoughts of Science
Fiction (the spirit of computer fights man)
First,
I have a question. “Why is it that these
machine designed for human aid are seen fighting their builders and users?
(Even though it’s a fiction)” Though, the question is left for scientists and
technologists because, the phenomenon is critical one. As I said earlier, even though it is seen as
science fiction, there are some elements of truth in it. The writer, of the
said movie; Brad Fiedel, with his
imagery mind and visional senses thought how our tomorrow’s computers would react;
even though he does not liken it to come to pass. In a realistic sense, the more the day go by,
the more, more sophisticated computers are built to ease life. But I say to you; that one day, someday,
these computers would cause harm to humanity if something is not done
earlier. The harm mustn’t be like that
of the movie “terminator”; where the robots were seen fighting men face to
face: it might come in the form of individual attack, instead of mass killing,
or even any other form; not yet known.
Remember! Today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s science. Here, what we see as not real in regards to
the stories and movies is the reality we see tomorrow. Already, robots exist in different forms and
shapes but there is no human-like robot in existence today; that possesses
fleshy bodies and having the extreme intelligence exactly as a human (where
there is no difference between the robot and human; except the robot tells
you).
With
reference to the movie, the human-like robots were programmed in such a way
that they were able and capable of predicting, through their database the
bonding of two unmarried fellows and as well as making it known to them that
they were destined to get married someday.
Maybe, one day, scientists and technologists would build human-like machine
that would predict human personality trait, marriage bonding between two
fellows and so on. When all these begins
to happen, I see it as the “end-of-the-world innovation” and its negative
effect is the consequences. In the movie
also, both human heroes saw and took it that the world was to end as the
machine fought men – that is exactly how it would be: the end time. Yes, it
shall come.
In
summary, science fiction is science
fiction; and science fiction is the truth behind science fiction. What I mean by the above is; science fiction
is all about scientific application of thought through imagination to create a
non-true story, painting it to be real and the same science fiction is the only
tool which is used to reveal the tomorrow’s realistic situations - which might
be seen real to some extent to the writers, readers and viewers but only those
who see the foreground would understand. Man will one day, in the future, try to build,
programme and design a human-like robotic machine that would assist and keep
him company. This would be achieved as a
result of scientific and technological advancement; the more technology
advance, the more the eyes of scientists open to see what was thought,
imagined, written and discussed in the past.
Keep in mind that today’s computer
science fiction is tomorrow’s computer science.
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