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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.”
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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