Studious 1 Andy Studious Prof. Rearick Research Writing, Sec. 4 March 6, 2016 Research Proposal Working Title: Racism: The Dark Side of Science Fiction Part I One of the great strengths of science fiction and fantasy as genres is their ability to help readers and viewers develop skills in perception that allow them to encounter people who are physically or socially different from them without the automatic prejudicial responses found in nearly every human. In fact the problem of prejudice has been overtly examined and exposed in a variety of works in science fiction and fantasy by the depiction of humans encountering “the other” either as aliens or some other fantastic beings. Thus, it is a shame that while often the critics of racism, science fiction and fantasy have sometimes perpetuated it. This issue has recently surfaced because of the claim by some critics that George Lukas' blockbuster Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Episode One is marred by alien characters who are based on old racial stereotypes. There may be some validity in these complaints, but the danger of racism is far more extensive than just some minor similarities between depicted alien characteristics and old racial stereotypes. This deeper problem manifests itself even in the classic Lord of the Rings which is currently being made into a strongly anticipated triad of live action films. There are elements in some science fiction and fantasy which systematically devalue and deny the validity of others— and this comes out especially in science fiction and fantasy which depicts conflict. Furthermore, and even more disturbing, some of this may have its roots in a Christian cosmology. In all levels of science fiction and fantasy (from juvenile material like Lost in Space to complex and ongoing series like Babylon Five), there are examples in which the weakness of human prejudice is exposed by authors who use aliens and other “beings fantastic” to depict “the other.” Studious 2 However, it seems that in story lines that involve conflict such as Star Wars, Dune, Starship Trooper, Star Trek and others there is a temptation to blink at the true value of the opponent and thus dismiss their deaths as of no consequence. I will suggest that this goes all the way back to Tolkien and Lewis in their depictions of the struggle of good against evil, and there may be a connection with this element of racism to the Christian world view held by these early authors. Certainly Christ did not approve of prejudice. But the Christian worldview does in its depiction of the war between Heaven and Hell set before the reader beings on two sides who are utterly and incorruptibly good and totally and unredeemably bad. Thus the destruction and desolation of say demons seems to be completely acceptable. This has had a number of manifestations but one of the strangest has been the new show on the Sci Fi Channel, Good vs. Evil. The message which comes across is that any normal being will rise to violence when confronted with “the other” because the other is a violation of the very nature of true life. I will conclude by noting that the problem of racism is not organic to the genres of SF and Fan but is rooted in the human heart itself. It is easy to devalue and diminish the enemy. In fact it soldiers who are in combat must do this or loose their hearts and minds into a vortex of empathy. A soldier can not constantly think of the family and loved ones of his opponent in the battlefield or he will hesitate and not survive himself. However, science fiction and fantasy in our society is not being used to mold the heart of soldiers but of civilians. The hatred and racism of the battlefield should be treated as a alien and hostile environment not one that is “natural” since the enemy strikes horror and disgust by its very existence. Studious 3 Part II Outline Thesis: Although science fiction and fantasy has traditionally taken the high road of tolerance, depicting humans working with beings of other races in an equal and peaceful manner, there is ample evidence within many popular works of these genres which reveal the racist flaws of condescension and hostility in some writers and directors. This is manifested in their treatment of the alien "other" of their universes. Furthermore some of these attitudes may have their roots in the Christian concept of polar opposition, often depicted in "literature of the fantastic" as the battle between good and evil. I. II. A. Introduction Personal early lessons about the stranger among us. B. Thesis: The proud legacy of Science Fiction and Fantasy is demonstrated in the many ways it teaches its readers and viewers to accept what seems strange or alien to them. Some overt examples of Science Fiction tearing down prejudice A. Television 1. 2. B. Lost in Space (1965-1968) i. “The Golden Man” ii. “The Questing Beast” Star Trek TOS (1966-1969) i. “Plato’s Stepchildren” ii. “Day of the Dove” iii. “Arena” iv. “Let This Be Your Last Battlefield” 3. Babylon Five 4. Beauty and the Beast 5. Xena Film 1. Enemy Mine 2. Planet of the Apes Studious 4 3. II. Troll In spite of this heritage it must also be acknowledged that Science Fiction and Fantasy has also depicted racial attitudes which are never questioned. III. With the exception of shows like Gundum Wing, this seems to happen most often in stories involving conflict. A. Television 1. 2. B. IV. i. “The Lost Planet of the Gods” ii. “The Hand of God” Star Trek: Next Generation (treatment of the Ferengi) i. “The Last Outpost” ii. “Ménage à Troi“ Film 1. Dune 2. Star Wars i. Episode One: The Phantom Menace ii. Episode Four: A New Hope Basis in early depictions of Good against Evil A. B. C. V. Battlestar Galactica Classic Literature 1. Beowulf 2. Dante's Inferno Early Twentieth Century 1. Lewis: Chronicles of Narnia 2. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings Christian Influence—modern version in Good Vs. Evil Conclusion A. Racism in SF and Fan because it is part of the human problem. B. Authors and producers must try to be more Studious 5 consciousness even as they tell a good story that they do not take the easy out and depict those who oppose the hero as somehow not having any value in themselves. Studious 6 Part III Annotated Works Consulted List "Entertainment: Star Wars: Lucas Strikes Back” BBC Online Network 14 July 1999 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/newsid_394000/39454 2.stm> April 18, 2000 Article describes Lucus’ response to the accusations that his latest Star Wars film, Episode One: The Phantom Menace, contains racial stereotypes. Also mentions the dismissal of such claims by fans. Fleeman, Michael “Star Wars' Fans think Jar Jar Mussa Die" Jam Movies (Originally Associated Press) 27 May 1999 <http://www.canoe.ca/JamStarWars/may27_jarjar.html> 18 April 2000 Describes the rather wide complaints about the existence of racism in Star Wars: Episode One, The Phantom Menace. Includes the references which appear to be black stereotypes but also mentions oriental and Italian. The article also includes initial fan reaction as well. Greste, Peter “World: Americas Church Blasts 'New Age' Star Wars” BBC Online Network 13 July 1999 http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_392000/39971.stm 18 April 2000 Gives a common “Christian” overview of the religious images which appear in Star Wars Episode One but misses the entire question of the treatment of intelligent beings. Studious 7 Hanson, Carter F. “1920's Yellow Peril Science Fiction: Political Appropriations of the Asian Racial 'Alien'” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 6:4 (24) 1995 312-29 This work centers on American literature from1900 to1999 specifically on science fiction’s treatment of race -- Asians -- as the other Hollinger, Veronica “(Re)Reading Queerly: Science Fiction, Feminism, and the Defamiliarization of Gender” Scienc Fiction Studies. 26:1 (77) (1999) 23-40. Examines science fiction’s treatment of gender and its relationship to queer theory especially in regard to feminism. Again not racism but it is interesting to note the similar claims. Malmgren, Carl D. “Self and Other in SF: Alien Encounters” ScienceFiction Studies. 20:1 (59) (1993) 15-33. The treatment of alien beings -- relationship to the self -- the other -- theories of Lem, Stanislaw -- Benford, Gregory -- Clarke, Arthur C. Ore, Rebecca “Aliens and the Artificial Other” New York Review of Science Fiction 5:8 (56) (1993) 18-20 Emphasizes the nature of the genres -- fiction -- science fiction—especially the treatment of alien beings -- the other Palumbo, Donald “Asimov's Crusade against Bigotry: The Persistence of Prejudice as a Fractal Motif in the Robot/Empire/Foundation Metaseries” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts 10:1 (1998) 43-63. Studious 8 American literature -- 1900-1999 -- Isaac Asimov’s Foundation, Robot and Empire series examines the role of prejudice and its application of chaos theory. Pearson, Wendy “Identifying the Alien: Science Fiction Meets Its Other” Science Fiction Studies 26:1 (1999) 49-53. Especially examines the treatment of homosexuality in science fiction. Not exactly about racism but close in its emphasis of “the other.” Also a review article. Pfitzer, Gregory M. “The Only Good Alien Is a Dead Alien: Science Fiction and the Metaphysics of Indian-Hating on the High Frontier” Journal of American Culture. 18:1 (1995) 51-67. Article deals with American literature -- 1900-1999 -- fiction -- science fiction -and film -- treatment of the other -- sources in treatment of Native Americans in Western American Samuels, David “'These Are the Stories That the Dogs Tell': Discourses of Identity and the Difference in Ethnography and Science Fiction” Cultural Anthropology 11:1 (1996) 88-118 This article examines the role of the self -- the other – in science fiction compared to that found in history and study of folklore. Schleifer, Paul C. “Fear of the 'Other' in Melissa Scott's Dreamships” Extrapolation: A Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy 35:4 (1994) 312-18 American literature -- 1900-1999 – Describes the author, Melissa Elaine Scott, vision in Dreamships novels and thetreatment of fear--especially of the other. Studious 9 Weinstock, Jeffrey A. “” Freakery: Cultural Spectacles of the Extraordinary Body NY: New York UP. 1996: 327-37. Examines the dramatic arts -- film -- and television -- treatment of alien -- monsters -- compared to freak -- in Star Wars film series -- Star Trek -The Next Generation -- Marquand, Richard -- Return of the Jedi -- relationship to science fiction Weinstone, Ann “Science Fiction as a Young Person's First Queer Theory” Science Fiction Studies 26:1 (77) 1999 Mar p.41-48 Another article on the relationship of Science Fiction to the to condition of homosexuality -- application of queer theory -- review article