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Module A: Genre
Elective 3: Science Fiction
Sphere by L.E. Spry, 
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Dune by Frank Herbert
Neuromancer by William Gibson
2001 A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick (Director)
This material was written by Colleen Walles.
Introduction to genre: Science Fiction
The focus of Genre in English Extension 1 is to develop your ability to ‘explore and evaluate notions of genre’ (Syllabus Document, p.89). You will study three texts from the prescribed texts list, the novels Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, Dune by Frank Herbert, Neuromancer by William Gibson and the film 2001 A Space Odyssey based on a story by Arthur C. Clark and directed by Stanley Kubrick.
The syllabus document states that students ‘examine why genres arise at a particular time and the social and cultural conditions that are conducive to their endurance or recurrence in popularity’ (p.89) In your study you will evaluate the interaction between the values of the different contexts and the forms of the chosen texts, including the function of conventions in reflecting both the context and the concerns.
The rubric in the Prescriptions is important and must guide your approach to the study of the texts and be reflected in your analytical and creative responses to assessment tasks and the HSC. The Prescriptions state:
In this elective students explore texts that represent a spectrum of imagined worlds. Developments in science and technology, and their acceptance as progress, are at the core of science fiction. Science fiction texts may challenge the degree of acceptance of science and technology, and provoke controversy and debate about the possibilities and the ramifications for humanity.
The Prescriptions draw attention to the focus on values and contexts:
They may experiment with aspects of time and challenge and disrupt traditional perspectives on the human form, morality, behaviour and power.
(pg 31. English. Stage 6. Prescriptions. 2009-2012)
All of the texts set for study represent a variety of challenges depending on the concerns and hopes of society in their contexts. It is helpful to incorporate such challenges in your original creative responses in keeping with the imagined worlds and developments in science and technology of your text.
What is very important to remember is that genres are dynamic, they sometimes change substantially, depending on the context and you should evaluate the extent to which generic distinctions are justified.
Another important aspect of this study is that you read and view a wide variety of texts that you consider may be classified as ‘Science Fiction’ to develop your ability to create your original imaginative, interpretive and analytical compositions (p. 89).
In your study you will need to evaluate:
- The influence of the context on the form including values and textual features reflected in the text.
- How each composer conforms to or subverts the concepts and conventions of Science Fiction.
- How the composer’s purpose and the form and content of the text was influenced by considerations of the anticipated audience.
What is Science Fiction?
The term genre was used to define a literary type or class and from the Renaissance until the end of the 18th century the rules of each genre were clearly defined and used to assess the success or failure of the text. However, your study will have shown you that each text has adapted many common rules and conventions depending on the context. It is your knowledge of genre and Science Fiction that will enable you to develop your own extended responses in the HSC Extension 1 Paper.
Exercise
Mind maps are a useful first step in establishing the relationships between the texts and developing your understanding of the functions of the conventions.
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