Writer's Blog 5

Future English Students,

Before I start, I'd like to let you know that the best part about English 110.01 may be what you anticipate to be the worst part. Heading into the class, I was excited to write and blog, but was less than excited to write about Science Fiction. Frankly, I couldn't think of a more stale subject. Through the course of the class, however, I learned that Sci-Fi wasn't so horrible after all, and that every genre deserves a chance. Shows like Star Trek or Battlestar Gallactica may seem dorky or weird, but you should at least give them a chance before you make your judgments. I didn't like every show I watched in class, but I was also surprised by many of them.

I think that sort of surprise is what makes this class so interesting. While the class seems to focus on exploring a different genre of English, you end up learning the most about yourself. You discover that you like things you thought you hated, and you also find out that you don't really like things you thought you loved. When all is said and done, this class is a learning experience. If you go into it with an open mind, you're bound to take a lot from it.

Do your assignments on time, and don't hesitate to ask Leslie for help. She doesn't bite, and I promise you'll become a better writer if you listen to her. Be friendly when helping your classmates with their work; nobody likes to feel like they're a bad writer. And finally, try to make it fun! I think it's pretty accurate to say that the students that had the most fun in the class also got the best grades. Have fun with the blogging and don't take it all too seriously. Everybody's in the same boat, so don't feel like a loser when you have to post something about Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I hope my advice helps you have a successful quarter, and I wish you all the best!

Sincerely,

Cameron Brown

Farscape

I wasn't a huge fan of Farscape. While I liked the concept of being ported into another galaxy or reality through a black hole, I think the whole plot could have been executed a whole lot better. The creatures John encountered were too bizarre for my taste. To me, they all seemed a little too campy; it was almost like they detracted from the plot instead of painting the image of this insanely different way of life. I think that the show would be a lot more interesting and compelling if the characters seemed a little more believable; maybe it's just me, but I have trouble taking a two-foot-tall, purple haired creature seriously. In the show's fairness, I've only seen one episode. However, my impressions of that single episode weren't exactly positive.

In my eyes, Farscape seemed most similar to Star Trek. For one, the creatures John encountered operated a ships control booth that had an eerily similar layout to that of the Enterprise. Also, Star Trek and Farscape both carry a theme of different species and creatures working together. I think that concept is more abstract than we realize, as different creatures and their priorities are so divided on our own planet. I don't think Farscape ripped off Star Trek or anything like that, but perhaps the creators of both shows had a similar vision of a future society.

All in all, I'm glad that I was forced to branch out and watch so many different shows in this class. I would have never watched Buffy, Star Trek, BSG, or any of the other shows we watched for that matter, had they not been assigned. But, because I did watch these shows, I feel like I understand the appeal of Science Fiction. There's a weird sense of escape when you watch some of these shows; it's refreshing to see creatures and life forms completely different than humans deal with the same sort of problems we do. I don't necessarily like the genre myself, but at least now I understand why others would.

STNG

I absolutely loved the Star Trek episode we watched in class. To me, it really epitomized what a good Science Fiction series can and should be. Instead of focusing on special effects or (to be frank) sex, the show brilliantly echoed the human rights debates we have on earth in the 21st century. I love symbolism, especially when it's creative, and the writers really hit a home run with this particular episode. In our culture, debates often arise when the line dividing right from wrong becomes increasingly blurry. In this episode of STNG, Data's natural rights are up for debate, as he's technically a robot. I think that this sort of argument really hits home, as we've had an all too similar debate in our own country during the past century. From different races to immigrants, all sorts of minorities have fought for their basic rights in our country. All in all, I think the reason I liked this episode was because it had a plot that made you think. There's no way anybody can watch that episode of STNG without forming their ow opinion regarding the fate of Data.

I can't really say that there's particular Sci-Fi series that I prefer over all the rest, but there definitely is a type of plot that I prefer. I love the episodes like the one we just watched in class, where the plot reflects our own world. In these types of episodes, I understand the real potential of Science Fiction. It's like a light bulb goes off when I make connections between our own world and these fictional places in the future; I feel like we learn a lot more about ourselves when we watch these types of episodes than we do about the characters of the show. I'm not a huge fan of BSG, but I can understand why others like it. It seems more modern to me, and not in a good way. It seems like a series that was written to draw a big audience on TV, and, to me at least, it doesn't have the same charm that Star Trek has.

Going into this course, I wasn't really belated to hear that our theme was Science Fiction. However, I have officially eaten my own words. I really did enjoy watching some of the shows, and I would have never watched any of them otherwise. So do I love any particular Sci-Fi show? Not really. But, I've enjoyed watching some the episodes, and I definitely have a newfound appreciation for the genre as a whole.