Definition of Science Fiction Essay

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Perhaps one of the most versatile genres in films, television, books, artwork and any number of things today is science fiction. Many times I have seen a sci-fi movie filed under comedy or drama. That is one of the major things that has led to my love for science fiction, the simple fact that it can be so much more than just science fiction. I would like to present a definition of what science fiction is in this paper. My definition will not be exact, because so many people have a different idea of what counts as sci-fi and, not only that, but we may have found yet another venue for science fiction by the time this paper is complete. In order to define what science fiction is and to support my definition, I am going to give some examples …show more content…
This is a story about aliens who have been receiving our television broadcasts for many years and they developed their own culture based on a sci-fi series called, you guessed it, Galaxy Quest. Poking fun at Star Trek and at space based science fiction movies in general, this movie is very enjoyable and at times I really forgot I was watching a science fiction movie and felt more as though I was simply watching a comedy.
All these examples I have given so far have been vastly different and that is the very reason that I used them as examples. Alien is a science fiction movie for sure, but it is also a suspenseful thriller. Some would even go as far as to say that it could be a horror movie. Tarzan doesn't even come close to being science fiction in some people's minds. This could be classified as a fantasy story or maybe action. Time traveling in The Time Machine is questionable as to whether it is truly science fiction, but then the question is, "What genre is this movie then?" Jurassic Park is another movie that you would probably find in action or horror, but it is most definitely science fiction. Last, but not least, is Galaxy Quest; yet another movie that will probably be found in the comedy section instead of science fiction. All of these stories have one thing in common: they are all science fiction. "So why are many of them listed
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