Week 3 & 4
How is science fiction different from fantasy, according to Le
Guin?
According to Ursula K. Le Guin (2008), argues
that science fiction and fantasy is clearly different. Science fiction are stories
that pretend and ignore the times in present.
It often pretends that the future is the present. However, fantasy is different
to science fiction because fantasy are stories that viewers clearly know
that it is unreal and will not happen in future. An example of science fiction
is “Star Wars.” A large number of science fiction fans believe that events
in science will happen in the future, which may include light sabers and
spaceships. Example of a fantasy would be “Wizard of Earthsea.” Fantasy such as
Earthsea includes spells, wizard and unrealistic elements.
What are the similarities between
science fiction and fantansy?
Although the two genres, science
fiction and fantasy, are in two different categories, I believe that there are
similarities as well. Similarities of the two are that they are not set in the present. Another similarity I found was people read the two because they
feel more important within themselves. The two genre always have a hero that
saves the planet or people in the area. Many readers of science fiction and
fantasy use imagination and picture themselves as the main character that is
strong, and acts that humans cannot possibly do such as “Iron Man” and “Harry
Potter.” They are both heroic characters that save people from disasters.
Reference:
Le Guin, U.K. (2008). Plausibility Revisited . Retrieved Oct 5, 2012, from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html
Hi Daeuhun, this is an ok start but do you think you can provide specific examples from Earthsea to show that you have read the text? Thanks
ReplyDeleteEarthsea is a fantasy because, Ged uses magical spells, and also able to turn into non-human forms such as eagles. These happenings give clear idea to the audience that Earthsea is a fantasy.
DeleteI want to add another example from earthsea. Earthsea contains a alot about summonings. The time when ged summons the demon through spells. Demon is also a non-human form, which also give clues to the viewers that the story earthsea is a fantasy.
DeleteHey Daehum,
ReplyDeleteNice blog. When you mentioned how ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Harry Potter’ are both heroic characters that save people from disasters. Do you think that Ged is a heroic character? He seemed to me that he was the one who was creating the disasters and people were saving him instead.
Yes I agree that Ged was the one who creats the monster. However, in all Fantasy and and science fiction, there are always a mentor, conflict, turning point, and a hero. In this film I still believe Ged is a heroic character who regrets and learns from his mistake, and tries to put things back together.
DeleteI can't believe I totally forgot his heroic scene in the beginning of the film and the novel. I definitely agree with your point of view. Ged is a heroic character and at the end when he defeats the shadow who was actually him its a personal victory within himself.
DeleteHow is science fiction different from fantasy, according to Le Guinn
ReplyDeleteAccording to Le Guinn, fiction is not based always based on reality, he suggests “fiction didn’t happen”, and fantasy is “Fantasy is shamelessly fictive”. (2005) my understanding is science fiction is creating a new world based on the observation of reality world, but the fantasy is based on the author’s imagination, the ideal world for the fantasy to happen.
If like Le Guinn suggest “What validates fiction is plausibility “, then science fiction is based on science plausibility, and the story back ground is often based on future ideal development of science technology. It will relate to the reader with the rational possibility idea, unlike fantasy is gains the laws of nature. For example “mind control” can be achieved by drugs, but in fantasy “mind control” is a form of magic power; the reader assimilate the possibility of what is happening in science fiction, because the story is still based on the plausibility then imagination, the characters is reasonable consent by readers.
Unlike fiction, fantasy it is happen in an ideal world, where matters does not matter in the reality. Reflecting on the book called A Wizard of Earthsea, the story was based on an imagination world called earth sea, the young wizard is growth and development while exploring the Earthsea. Then the fictionality world setting of A Wizard of Earthsea continues in The Tombes of Atuan and The Farthest Shores.it is establishes the facticity of the Earthsea. Ged the main characters was related to many non-human being in the book, which Le Guinn suggest the it is impassable to predict what will happen in fantasy, or where the story will lead you to. Just like we will never image the evil was part of the Ged, at the same time he is the powerful hero amount all others; or a human being shift to an animal. Like I suggest in paragraph two, in fantasy matters can be against the law of nature. The reader will enjoy the story happen in a fictionality world, and admire the powerful being in the story.
On a reader’s perspective, the major different between fiction and fantasy is that you feel related to the fiction, but admire fantasy.
reference
Le Guin, U.K. (2008). Plausibility Revisited . Retrieved Oct 5, 2012, from http://www.ursulakleguin.com/PlausibilityRevisited.html
Hello Emilll, I enjoyed and agreed with your commment. I like how you have defined your understanding of fantasy and science fiction. Thank you very much for your feed back.
ReplyDelete