Today, science fiction is one of the most important artistic genres. It helps people understand things like Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology, which will have a great impact on our lives in the coming decades. Some sci-fi lovers prefer to play Roulette at Cosmic Spins while watching their favourite science fiction movies. Although the sci-fi genre has been popular throughout the last 5 decades, it hasn’t had a great influence on our culture at the beginning.
What is Science Fiction?
Science fiction usually deals with the worlds or planets that differ from our own as a result of new technologies or different social systems. In simple words, it is a form of fiction involving different worlds that has a more futuristic vibe. As movies like the Harry Potter series involve magic and bases themselves on the medieval past, they cannot be counted in the science fiction genre. Therefore, historical dramas about space like Apollo 13 are also not included in the sci-fi genre.
Science Fiction is More Accepted Than Ever
Science fiction has historically been a beloved genre, but not always an accepted one by the audience. Many of them thought that it was mainly for nerds. Science fiction has exploded in popularity since the year 2000. More than half of the top domestic grossing movies of 2010 were based on science fiction. Before 2009, Star Wars and E.T were the only two sci-fi movies that nominated for the Best Picture award. Since then, six movies have been nominated for the Academy Awards, though none of them won. However, this indicates that science fiction sells in the 21st century and it’s more popular and more accepted than ever.
Technological advances are constantly changing the world around us. In the past decade, the iPhone was the greatest innovation in the world, and now it’s on its 11th iteration. None of the changes in recent years is minor and it’s because of their huge impact on the society that we need a channel or medium to process them through. Science fiction provides this medium and allows us to better understand the world around us.
Why Science Fiction is Important?
“I feel like if you’re going to write realism of the 21st century, sci-fi is simply the best genre to do it,” said famous science-fiction novelist Kim Robinson in an interview with the Guardian. “The reason for this is that we’re living in a big science fiction novel now that we all co-write together.”
By considering other worlds that might exist, science fiction can be used to explore our place in the universe. Also, it can inspire school kids to become scientists. Edwin Hubble, who proved that galaxies exist outside of the Milky Way, was inspired to become a scientist after Jules Verne Novels.
Science fiction is the only genre that depicts how society can work differently. As it allows us to imagine the future we want, it becomes easy to find out ways to work towards it. It also makes us aware of the future that we need to avoid and helps us take the right measures to prevent it.
