In David Gerrold’s “Star Truck” the author gives examples and arguments to how the writers and creators of Firefly uniquely built the world for this science fiction/western hybrid through subtext, unique philosophical questions, and relatable uses of modern-looking technology. I believe that the author has provided numerous quality examples to demonstrate his opinion on this subject and has done an excellent job and persuading the reader. Gerrold’s writing provides examples from the show Firefly to show how the writers used subtext in lieu of monologues, or other means, to help build their characters. He also argues that a show asking philosophical questions such as “what does it mean to be a human being?” helps to create an intrigue for the audience as other shows, even within that same genre, don’t take the same approach to asking those types of questions, if they’re even asked at all (190). In his writing, Gerrold explains how the use of subtext is greater at providing insight to a character than any other method. Gerrold solidifies his point wit the examples of Mal shooting a federal agent in the head without hesitation (despite him holding someone hostage at gunpoint) and his kicking of an evil henchman in to …show more content…
Gerrold also points out intricacies in character development, such as Mal kissing the cross around his neck in the original episode of the show and then later stating that God is not welcome on his ship, that I had never noticed
Hidden Intelligence vs. Hidden Satire When writing their essays, Gerald Graff and Antonia Peacocke both look at the intellectual side of topics not commonly thought to require a high level of intelligence. Graff refers to multiple nontraditional subjects like sports, cars, and fashion, while Peacocke focuses only on the TV show, Family Guy. Both of the articles express the idea that things at first glance may not seem to have an intellectual aspect, but as they are further analyzed, the content can have a deeper meaning than ever imagined. In Gerald Graff’s essay, “Hidden Intellectualism,” he discusses the basic “street smart” verses the “book smart” individual in the academic world.
The article proposes the Rod Serling was a pioneer in the sci-fi genre and that his work would thrive in today’s film industry. The logos element of the rhetoric triangle stands out the most in the article, as the
(1st Slide) Distinctively Visual Distinctively Visual ideas in text have the power to provoke reactions from the responders. The elements of characterisation, dialogue, stage directions and dramatic techniques, cause responders to question the notions of normalcy, and challenge them to think and visualise in new ways. (2nd Slide)
Tyler Broome 12/3/2016 AP Language and Composition Crutcher “Three Cups of Deceit” Character determines incident. Incident illustrates character. This statement, though simple, can be applied to almost anything in society. In this case, with Jon Krakauer and the way he deals with the discovery and presentation of fictive information written in Greg Mortenson’s novel “Three Cups of Tea.”
The purpose of this confession written by Jonathon Lethem was to alleviate an inner turmoil that he had been struggling with for years now. This essay expands upon why his obsession with the “Star Wars” series during the time where in which his mother was suffering from a mental illness and before his awkward teenage years turned into an escape from reality. Lethem’s pride in the accomplishment of watching the series 21 times seems to be masked buy his own shame, but it was obvious that he views this experience as one of the most self-defining experiences of his life. The audience is left with a loving connection for the author as well as a sense of understanding and sympathy for his losses. At the end of his essay, he ends up describing himself as “the kid who partly invented himself in the vacuum collision of Star Wars - and real loss.”
Careful symbolism is coordinated so that the reader has to form their own conclusions as to the ending of the novel. Gjorg’s point of view
“I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows, or gorillas” remarked Ray Bradbury, author of the science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451 and many other works, “when this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room”. A suspension of disbelief is mandatory when reading science fiction. The realm of the genre travels from the stars, to the pageant of politics, to biologically modified animals. Science fiction contains a myriad of subgenres that split into every idea or place possible, and, more often than not, impossible. Jaunting throughout the entire cosmos of science fiction is the Marxist Theory.
For people living in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community, hiding in a “the closet” is very common in hiding their true identities. Extreme precaution is taken to help prevent exposing themselves to friends and family until the time is right for them. Then, when someone is finally ready to reveal their true selves they must deal with the reactions of everyone they tell. This process is highlighted in the American sitcom The Golden Girls, a show highlighting the lives of four women after retirement and living in their “golden years”. The episode “Scared Straight” (1988) highlight the relationship between Blanche and her younger brother Clayton-
The creative piece presented was written to respond to major themes developed in the film Blade Runner (1982). One of these themes presented is the moral issue regarding the creation of synthetic humans. To address this the topic question “The real or synthetic: do we even care?” was utilised. This theme is continuously prevalent in the film as the Replicant protagonists’ fight a profound battle to establish themselves as more than slaves for mankind, as it is “Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it?
Furthermore, a similar representation is seen Joss Whedon’s Firefly (Joss Whedon, 2002)
Susan Sontag, an author of the essay “Imagination Disaster,” explores the world of science fiction as she discusses the tropes in films from the mid-1900s. Throughout her essay, Sontag analyzes why these types of films were created, and basically ties her discussion with humanity. With the growing technological advances, science fiction films state specific things about how science threatens humanity. She also ties her discussion to how sci-fi films tend to serve an attempt at distributing a balance between humanity and the technological world. Sontag claims that science fiction films has suspense, shock, surprises, has an inexorable plot, and how they invite a dispassionate, aesthetic view of destruction and violence.
There are times when the character’s thoughts and words pause as they are contemplating the previous events and the accusations laid at their feet from the other person. This helps to raise the suspense of what that person will say in response. Maas has used instances like the previously described scene to help create a sense of knowing every emotion and thought that runs through the characters heads as the story unfolds. Sarah J. Maas has created a complex world around a set of dynamically changing characters, mainly Aelin Galathynius. She uses different forms of rhetoric and poetic devices to paint a clearer picture to the audience.
The stories are about us,” (155). The show can influence us to act a certain way. Researchers at Ohio State University “examined what happened to people who, while reading a fictional story, found themselves feeling the emotions, thoughts, beliefs and internal responses of … the characters as if they were their own - a phenomenon the researchers call experience-taking”(Libby, 2012). People nowadays are more into performance entertainment than reading. Therefore, resulting more of a connection between a viewer and show than a book would.
The story ends with Anders enjoying his last memory of his younger days out on a baseball field filled with wonder. The tone Wolff has is one of underlying understanding. This tone is developed through several literary devices. It is very important in understanding what Wolff is trying to convey with “Bullet in the Brain” in order to understand why and what literary devices he used to achieve his tone. With many different themes and intertextuality in this story it is difficult to understand the main point.
[He] does not notice the police car… follow him.” This one event, mixed with the stereotype the protagonist has thrown upon him by the cop, seals his fate. All three of these situations foreshadow the ironic and deadly situation that the poor lost man is about to find himself involved. It is these subtle hints to his death that not only add suspense to the plot, but also hold a key importance in conflict development. W.D. Valgardson uses many great elements of fiction to build plot and conflict, as well as teach the lesson of not making snap judgments in his short story Identities.