What do today's sci-fi/horror/fantasy tell us about U.S. society?

In 2016 we did this very same topic. Thay's ten years ago, if you want to feel old. It was on a beautiful, warm June evening, however, and we had probably our lowest attendance since: About seven people.

I think it was just one of those nights. Besides, I love this topic so I'm not giving up on this. I really do believe that the avalanche of science fiction and fantasy novels, movies, and TV shows that we surf on top of is much more than just a function of lower-cost special effects technology and lack of fresh ideas in Hollywood.

I think the popularity and content of Americans' sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fascination tells us a lot about ourselves and our culture - and even our politics. Even if you do not read or watch this stuff, most of the country does. And I think they are watching our current cultural zeitgeist and our citizens' biggest hopes and fears reflected right back at them.

There are all kinds of theories about exactly what today's sci-fi/horror/fantasy fiction is telling us about ourselves. The popularity of dystopian digging-through-the-rubble sci-fi might seem obvious. But do all those zombie movies specifically reflect our fear of each other and distrust of strangers in this impersonal, phone-based world? Or are they just fun first-person shooter war fiction that give viewers the luxury of not feeling bad about all the killing? Vampire fiction has been discussed for a century as being fables about sublimated sexuality and female power or patriarchy. Was the Twilight saga meant as a conservative author's warning against teenage sex and as a parable of the joys of traditional marriage? Was Game of Thrones how people see the modern U.S. game of politics, or was it just bloody fun with nudity and dragons?

And content continues to evolve. Post-nuclear apocalypses are out, but environmental apocalypse are everywhere. We are seeing fresh new takes on rogue AI/updated terminator fiction, like the Westworld remake and Companion. Plus, post-pandemic worlds, such as The Last of Us. Some of these TV series and movies are subtle and non-formulaic. Popular culture is not all low-brow junk. Even if it is, does it not also tell us something about what, well, the populace is worried about and maybe how they see today's world and the direction it is heading?

Resistance is futile. Join Civilized Conversation on Monday, February 2nd for a break from our real horrors to talk about our, er, unreal horrors.

Optional Backgrounders –
- TBD