LITR 4632 Literature of the Future

Sample Student Midterms 2009

Excerpts

Selections rather than complete essays--breaks are indicated by ellipses ( . . . )

Victoria Cyr

 . . . For me, the class discussions are what really get me thinking into more of a Sci-Fi realm. For example, when Samantha did her Future Vision Presentation on I am Legend.  I have seen this movie numerous times, but not once did I ever see Will Smith’s character as a messiah or a savior. I have never looked at this movie in that way. Samantha’s presentation allowed me to look back at my past impressions of the movie and helped to re-evaluate my thinking. I also enjoyed Parable of the Sower. It allowed me to evoke questions like “what will they do” or “how much can they take”, or “how will they live” true aspects of an apocalyptic as well as an evolutionary narrative. . . .

In the end, I would have to say this course has really showed me different variations of a narrative. It has showed me all the various results we get from our decisions and how many time periods can actually correlate at once. In my opinion, I would have to say the future is being written. I feel as though we all have a say in what happens in the future and that we will continue to adapt and form the future as we see fit.

Georgina Reed

In the same instant that future narratives grant hope and possibilities, they also demonstrate a profound possibility of negative consequences. For example, apocalyptic narratives are often characterized as romances due to the idea of a lone hero that saves the “good” of humanity. But the heroism in an apocalyptic narrative comes at a high price: loss of family, home or society. Additionally, evolution is most often described and illustrated as the advancement of a species of society, Yet, The Time Machine gives a different perspective of evolution when the Time Traveller remarks, “ There is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change.” (101) Furthermore, alternative narratives show not only how changing directions can provide a positive outcome, but how crossing those parallel timelines and universes can be used for greed without a second thought by callous individuals or groups. For example, “Mozart in Mirrorshades” describes how Rice abandons an alternate time-line when its society is pushed into anarchy by the corporate greed of “real-time”. As he departs, someone states, “Forget it. There’s plenty of eighteenth centuries.” (237)

            Understanding Literature of the Future entails contemplation and depends on discourse. While reflecting on the three forms of future narratives (apocalypse, evolution and alternative), I found more similarities than differences. Pamela Richey, former student (2007) stated that of the three standard narratives of the future, “the alternative future seems to be the redheaded stepchild of future narratives.” Despite this opinion, the alternative concept seems to be the most reasonable. It provides the basis of “what-if” I made a choice to change my direction, which is clearly the underlying theme of all of these narratives. Regardless of which narrative one reads there are always different paths available based on the character's choice. From Revelations to The Time Machine or “Eight” we are given a choice: in thought or action, in acceptance or rejection. As Borges writes in “Garden”, “I felt myself to be for an unknown period of time, an abstract perceiver of the world.” 

            The future is constantly being written by human-kind. Contrary to other literature classes that provide opportunity to discuss where we have been and how we got there, Literature of the Future grants us with the prospect and vision of the endless possibilities based on the choices we make today.

Faron Samford

 . . . Genesis and Revelations, which have been our poster-child of a linear, apocalyptic tale, contains elements of an evolutionary tale.  In Genesis 2.9, the “tree of life” is located in the garden of Eden, and those that have been chosen to be saved from the apocalypse are welcomed again by the “tree of life” in Revelations 23:2.  This cyclical nature of things featuring a return to the beginning after the struggle and strife, is typical of an evolutionary tale. “Somebody Up There Likes Me” has the natural elements of an evolutionary tale, but also has several references to the Biblical apocalypse. Mickey, the “bearlike creature” as he is described who provides the computer is referred to in very animalistic terms (229).  Boyce’s backyard is referred to as “the Garden of Eden” and the allusion continues with the name of the computer that is going to end their old lives and allow them to start new ones is called the “Revelation 2000” (216).  These elements are also combined in Parable where an evolutionary tale unfolds in an apocalyptic world.  Lauren’s earthseed community they begin to start as the novel ends resembles the isolated community she grew up in and is simply a cyclical return to the beginning. . . .

Sarah Wimberley

A New Experience

            Coming into this course I had no real expectations because I did not know anything about science fiction literature.  When I received the books and read their descriptions, I found myself pleasantly surprised.  The stories were not all about space travel and aliens the way I had anticipated.  Instead, I found some seriously gripping tales about people I could relate to.  As I began to understand what classifies different narratives as literature of the future I became very interested and engaged.  This course is very different from other literature classes in that we are not studying the usual classic literature that is read in other courses.  In Literature of the Future the books are off the beaten path.  The apocalyptic, evolutionary, and alternative narratives open the mind and the imagination to the many possibilities the future can hold for the human race. . . .

            In an alternative narrative the future is presented in many different ways.  There seems to always be another door to walk through or another reality beyond our regular reality.  No linear or circular patterns are available.  Instead, the future seems to present itself in the form of a labyrinth or maze of options.  In “Mozart in Mirrorshades” a perfect example of an alternative narrative is presented in that the future seems to be not connected to the past.  The time travelers believe that the future that their family and friends reside in will remain unaffected by the changes they make to the past.  The past has already happened in their future, so the new past will not affect the current times in which they come from.    An alternative narrative leaves the door open for many, many types of futures in that different places of the narrative seem to be branching away from each other rather than depending upon each other for a beginning and ending or a cycle.  We see a reverse of this in the Time Machine in that the time traveler gets a frightening view of the very distant future instead of the past.  Alternative narratives represent many different perspectives and do not always interconnect the past and the future or vice versa.