Friday, August 17, 2012
Week 4: How is Science Fiction different from Fantasy, according to Le Guin?
Science Fiction and Fantasy are two genres that are quite similar, but different. They both deal with fictitious characters and plots, but they approach these in different ways.
LeGuin (2005) talks about the differences between ‘Fiction’ and ‘Realistic Fiction’; stating that the former “never happened” and the latter is under the pretence that it, in fact, did happen. According to LeGuin (2005), science fiction contains an essence of realism; it uses facts and past events as its context. In contrast to that statement, fantasy plays on the imagination, and does not exactly have any realism in it. Laetz and Johnston (2008) state that “… fantasy represents the very heights of imaginative expression” (p.163). I would say that (sometimes) the closest to realism; and as reported by LeGuin (2005); are the conventional personalities that the characters have. Other than that, the race of the characters is not entirely conventional at all. You may have a human, an animal, or something that is completely out of an ordinary race.
A frequent keyword that occurs in LeGuin’s article is “plausibility”. Leguin (2005) states that ‘plausibility’ confirms the true nature of the genre ‘Fiction’. We (the readers and/or viewers) are under the impression that it could be real, but are deceived by its fictitious content. Both Science Fiction and Fantasy contain plausibility, but are crafted differently. LeGuin (2005) goes on to mention that Science Fiction utilises plausibility to connect with its readers, while plausibility in Fantasy consists of the “coherence of the story [and] its consistent self-reference”. In relation to the “consistent self-reference” that LeGuin mentions, Laetz and Johnston (2008) state that “whatever features define a genre must be prominent in a work in order for it to belong to the relevant genre” (p.162). So, the consistency in mentioning particular terms or features related to the genre, keeps the plausibility within that genre. Now, I may be wrong in this, but it is my partial understanding of it.
Reference:
LeGuin, U. 2005. Plausibility revisited: Wha hoppen and what didn't. Retrieved August 18, 2012 from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html
Laetz, B. & Johnston, J. (2008). What is fantasy? Philosophy and Literature, 32(1), 161-172. doi: 10.1353/phl.0.0013
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I had always thought that science fiction was an unimaginable storyline set in a futuristic world. I guess fantasy could sit under this description too, although not necessarily in the future: the fantasy storyline can be any era past, present or future. Your comments about LeGuin on plausibility add another dimension to the two genres and add some clarity about what is expected from the reader's point of view when they pick up a piece of fantasy or science fiction to read.
ReplyDeleteYeah, to be honest I was confused on this whole topic altogether. Science Fiction is not really something I've really delved into it before, or have really been a fan of. But this account is just from my point of view, and my understanding on LeGuin's piece. I also didn't feature anything from that week's primary text, which I probably should've done.
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia - yes, it would be good if you could refer to some examples from Earthsea. For example, what are some recurring features in the text that keeps it plausible?
ReplyDeleteWhat is confusing you about this topic? Maybe I can help!
Hi Olivia,
ReplyDeleteThis was a difficult article to intepret, I struggled a bit too when trying to write down what I thought Le Guin was trying to say about the difference between Science fiction and Fantasy, and like what you said fantasy plays on the imagination where your taken to another world and are not confined to the comfort of the here and now, as portrayed in science fiction, where the future is unknown and you are able to write and rewrite what happened in the past, what happens in the present and what can happen in the future. Just my opinion :)