Introduction to Science Fiction: Genres, History, and Film Analysis

Vocabulary flashcards defining fundamental literary, cinematic, and historical terms from Weeks 1 through 9 of the science fiction course notes.

Genre

Classification of creative works based on conventions (such as western, comedy, chick lit), themes, or ideas.

Form

The medium of communication used for a work, such as film, novel, or video game.

Mode

The method or mood driving exploration (such as the fantastic, the nostalgic, or the sacred); a broad category describing conventions or techniques across genres and forms.

"Hard" science

Disciplines such as astronomy, chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering.

"Soft" science

Disciplines such as physiology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics.

Science fiction

Speculative fiction that relies on "hard" and "soft" sciences.

Fantasy

Speculative fiction that relies on supernatural forces that defy "natural" or "physical" laws.

Scientifiction

A term coined in 1926 for the publication Amazing Stories.

Speculative fiction

An umbrella term encompassing science fiction and fantasy.

Platonic ideals

Ideals toward which every text ought to strive.

Genre studies

An area of study focused on the taxonomization of works of art.

Lukascian approach

An approach rooted in historical materialism that downgrades avant-garde and experimental works.

Historical materialism

A school of thought that views human society, culture, and art as defined by the material and economic conditions of a given society.

Epistemological shifts

Changes to our assumed reality.

Mimetic mode

A mode of presentation that depicts reality as it is.

Allegorical mode

A mode of presentation that depicts the deeper truths behind reality.

Virtual mode

A mode characterized by the creation of secondary virtual realities.

The Other

Any group that exists outside the power structures of a given society.

Manichaeism worldview

A worldview that sees reality strictly in black and white.

Paraliterary cultures

Cultures that form around a shared love of texts, such as fandoms and cosplay.

Proto-science fiction

Science fiction created before Mary Shelley.

Mary Shelley

Recognized as the Mother of science fiction.

Father(s) of science fiction

Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Edgar Allen Poe.

Astounding Science Fiction

One of the first and most influential pulp fiction publications.

Extrapolation

The imaginary creation of new worlds and technologies drawn from current scientific understanding of the world.

Cognitive estrangement

Deliberately skewing aspects of the world that are taken for granted.

Production

All of the behind-the-scenes work that puts a film together for release.

Authorship

A subjective cinematic concept involving multiple contributors such as actors, filmmakers, and casting directors.

Diegetic sound

Sound that is natural to the environment of the story and acknowledged by the characters.

Non-diegetic sound

Sound unnatural to the environment of the story, such as background music used to establish emotional responses.

Score

Music composed specifically to play during a film's runtime.

Foley

Sounds created artificially to resemble real-world sounds, such as leaves crunching.

German expressionism

A modernist movement from 1910–1930 characterized by bold colors, sharp angles, and themes of alienation.

Blockbuster

An immensely popular movie.

Feminist perspective

A critical approach that focuses on gender and sexuality.

Marxist perspective

A critical approach that focuses on class and economics.