Religion and science fiction

Mendlesohn, Farah

doi:10.1017/ccol0521816262.021

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…(2020, p.124). Emphasising the vitality of alienation, James and Mendlesohn (2003) claim that science fiction "values alienation as the central element of character" (p.10). However, Nora discovers herself in the mysterious midnight library, while she is planning to commit suicide that midnight, a boundless realm brimming with volumes that symbolise each potential life trajectory she may have pursued, contingent upon various decisions made.…”

Section: _________________________________________mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This genre is expanding and sophisticated, utilising science fiction techniques to delve into the intricacies of human experience following trauma. James and Mendlesohn (2003) support this assortment as "science fiction is part of a polysemic discourse. Texts are vulnerable to a multiplicity of interpretations, each of which produces a different landscape of science fiction, as reflected in the numerous academic and 'fan' canons which have emerged over the past eight decades" (p.10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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The Science Fiction of Trauma in Matt Haig’s the Midnight Library

Ünal

2024

Uluslararası Dil Edebiyat Ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi

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This study examines the emergent literary subgenre known as The Science Fiction of Trauma which involves the distinctive combination of science fiction components and studies of the complicated effects of trauma. The study posits that science fiction narratives often address trauma more explicitly than traditional literary studies, which may shy away from grappling with its complex and chaotic nature. An analysis of speculative fiction allows the exploration of intricate symbolic depictions of symptoms related to trauma (such as flashbacks and dissociation), the influence of trauma on one’s sense of self, and the broader societal ramifications of significant traumatic incidences. Exploiting science fiction settings that incorporate futuristic technology, encounters with extraterrestrial beings, or society that have been altered greatly, enhances the ability to depict the psychological and emotional consequences of trauma. Science fiction encompasses more than just the portrayal of spaceships and robots. It can be utilised to investigate genuine human experiences such as trauma. Science fiction writers employ the extraordinary components of the genre, such as sophisticated technology, alien civilizations, and futuristic settings, as instruments. These tools serve a purpose beyond creating visually impressive action scenes or constructing fictional worlds. They are employed to enhance the emotional resonance of trauma and make it more relatable for the reader. The aim of the study is to analyse Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library conducting the elements of The Science Fiction of Trauma in which fictional portrayals can both reveal and influence the dynamic advancements in scientific comprehension and representation of trauma.

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Section: _________________________________________mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

The Science Fiction of Trauma in Matt Haig’s the Midnight Library

Ünal

2024

Uluslararası Dil Edebiyat Ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi

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“…Midson 2018). That is not to say that robots are never overtly associated with religion; even in sci-fi, religion is an important subcategory (Mendlesohn 2003;Graham 2015), and of course there are numerous examples of robots in religious contexts, including robots specifically designed for religious contexts such as BlessU-2 and Xian'er, as well as other robots like Pepper, which is designed for a more general and commercial audience but has nonetheless been used to deliver Buddhist funerals (Trovato et al 2019b, pp. 544-45).…”

Section: Affective Automata: Contextual Associations Of Robotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Posthuman Priests: Exploring the ‘New Visibility of Religion’ in Robotic Re(-)presentations of Religious Rituals

Midson

2022

Religions

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In 2017, visitors to a church in Wittenberg were given the opportunity to receive blessings from a robot. The so-called ‘robot priest’, named ‘BlessU-2’, poses a lot of questions and possibilities. One of these is about the ways that robots might mediate and represent religious teachings, beliefs, and experiences, which is the focus of this paper. Taking Hoelzl and Ward’s ‘new visibility of religion’ hypothesis, the paper asks about what kind of visibility BlessU-2—and similar robots in religious contexts—represents: is it whimsical; novel; authentic; secular? By locating the robot in historical and theological frameworks, the nuances of what it represents and how it might be seen to mediate religiosity in some way are revealed and discussed.

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“…É por isso que o texto de Swift se mostra tão fecundamente interessante. Se é possível, hoje, considerar que um dos traços mais importantes da literatura de Ficção Científica é justamente a exposição das fissuras geradas pelo mundo em que a consciência técnica de certa forma anula a consciência humana (MENDLESOHN, 2003), como a constatação da contradição entre o mundo vislumbrado da utopia e a realidade que se impôs acima (e apesar) da "visão", é também possível ler a "Modesta proposta" como um diagnóstico precoce dessas mesmas fissuras, mas que tem a sensibilidade de reconhecer um aspecto diferente (e fundamental).…”

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A ficção do cientista a respeito da "modesta proposta" de Swift

Morato

2012

Remate de Males

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Já no início da era moderna, antes mesmo do desenvolvimento da Ficção Científica, é possível identificar alguns diagnósticos da ruptura entre pensamento científico e formação humanista que vai estar na base do gênero. Um dos pontos de inflexão desse diagnóstico pode ser identificado nas sátiras inglesas (não por acaso, o país emblemático do pensamento científico moderno) do início do século XVIII. Deste ponto de vista, a leitura da "Modesta proposta" de Jonathan Swift pode ser enriquecida por um olhar que procure encontrar nela os vislumbres das futuras distopias da Ficção Científica já na própria alvorada da Revolução Industrial.

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Religion and science fiction

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

The Science Fiction of Trauma in Matt Haig’s the Midnight Library

The Science Fiction of Trauma in Matt Haig’s the Midnight Library

Posthuman Priests: Exploring the ‘New Visibility of Religion’ in Robotic Re(-)presentations of Religious Rituals

A ficção do cientista a respeito da "modesta proposta" de Swift

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