Speculative_Fiction

The main purpose of speculative fiction is to forewarn humanity. By creating a reduced but parallel reality to our own society, a concept is explored in a way that highlights humanity’s problems, creating a microcosm of society. This is achieved in the Andrew Niccols 1997 film, Gattaca, and in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding, through the effective use of themes and literary and film techniques. Speculative fiction forewarns humanity through the extrapolation of societal angst and fears. This is accomplished through the emphasis of the frailties and faults of human nature in a specialised context. Speculative fiction removes distractions in order to focus on one point of view to see how that issue might ultimate affecthumanity. Exaggeration and hyperbole are used to reflect our world through imagination, creating an alternatereality and therefore alternate outcomes. Speculative fiction explores the ethics and morals of our society, asking the ultimate question of “what if”, in order to forewarn humanity. Andrew Niccols 1997 Gattaca uses the themes of superiority as opposed to inferiority and how these relate to fate to forewarn humanity. He does this primarily throughfilm techniques such as setting and lighting. The film is an extension of the present day attitudes and practices surrounding genetic manipulation, creating an Orwellian society . Gattaca challenges status within our society by taking it to the extreme of class based on genes. Gattacais set in a manicured world where it proves beneficial to individuals to sabotage society’s rights and values. The setting is faceless and dehumanising. It is based around the idea of perfection and conformity. Humans are taken out of the natural environment and placed into a society controlled by a central system. Sound, costume and lighting are used to contribute to the effect of the setting. The costumes worn by Gattaca employees are sombre uniforms symbolic of an impersonal society. The shapes are geometric and convey a certain polished elegance. White light is used to create a sense of cleanliness and sterility while dark lighting creates a melancholy, cautious mood. This sterile setting conceals the dark side of Gattaca, being one of discrimination towards the “inferior” of society. The opening scene emphasises the restrictions on society’s expectations as shadows create a hatched pattern on Vincent’s body, like bars, as he scrubs his body of excess DNA material. This film technique symbolically emphasises this thesense of imprisonment that Vincent feels as an “invalid” in that society. Later, Vincent says “Ibelonged to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your skin. We now have discrimination down to a science.” Although the criteria has changed, society still focuses on discrimination showing the problems and issues concerned with superiority within a society. The Gattaca society could be utopic however a dystopic and oppressive system is created in this isolated society, not by intention but by individual choices and therefore is only utopic for those of pure genes . Niccol condemns the belief that humans may be superior or inferior because of their genetic makeup. Within the society of Gattaca, there is unapologetic discrimination, based on the assumption that genetic manipulation improves an individual.The opening scene begins with the amplified sound of fingernails thundering to the floor with the use of extreme close-ups of genetic material, emphasising the importance of your genes on your future and destiny. This uses, lighting and setting to convey this idea. The theme of fate and providence is also followed through this film and acts as a forewarning for humanity. The film exaggerates the idea of the predetermined worth of a person being dependent on their genetic composition. The importance of genetic material is shown in the Gattaca society’s obsession with defining people by their genetic background. The film implies that your fate is set by your genetic composition and that there is no way of breaking out of these conventions. Niccol, however, shows that such conventions can be broken and that genetic make-up is less important than strength of character, this is proven to be the central idea. Vincent’s determination, helps him surpass his “predetermined potential” when he refuses to accept his hand of fate. During the swimming scene, a birds- eye- view is used to follow Vincent and Anton’s race. The water is symbolic of the invisible barriers of society. Anton is used to represent the society that both rejected and oppressed his and as he conquers his brother, so does he conquer society. His rise above destiny represents the triumph of human spirit over genetics, exposing the falsity of predictive genetics. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, uses themes and literary techniques such as symbolism to forewarn humanity. William Golding’s experiences of World War Two had a profound effect on his view of humanity, and the evils to which it was capable of, this in turn has an effect of his literature and characters. The main theme is the loss of innocence through the tension betweencivilisation and savagery. This is explored through symbolism, setting and the use of Biblical parallels. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical text, which draws parallels with our society and is intended to be read as symbolic. It is written through an omniscient narrator who is all knowing. This allows us to follow the struggles and downfalls of the characters and in doing so, helps us to be forewarned against similar struggles. The novel is set on an isolated island without the distractions of other civilisation. This allows the reader to focus on the themes and their impact on the boys and their actions. Throughout the novel, we see the boys’ journey from a progressive, well-behaved civilisation with a longing to be rescued to a divided society with no desire to return to civilization. This journey parallels their loss of innocence. This is scene in the description of Jack’s actions, “The pause was only long enough for them to understand the enormity of the downward stroke”. The use of figurative language in the word ‘downward’, and foreshadows the boys descent into savagery. Golding portrays this concept not as something physically done to the young children but as a result of their natural instinct to revert to one’s innate human evil, thatis always present. In, the savage, painted hunters are juxtaposed with the innocent guiltless children of the beginning of the novel. Lord of the Flies discusses the idea that civilization may mitigate but never conquer, innate evil. Simon is first shown in a state of peace and natural beauty however later discovers the Lord of the Flies, being the pig’s head. This bloody offering ultimately disrupts the previously existing paradise of innocence. This is shown in the description of the pigs head “There was a blackness within, a blackness that spread”. This is symbolic of the innate evil within all, and in turn foreshadows Simon’s death. The repetition of the world black creates emphasis of the evil connotations of the colour black. The loss of innocence of the children is reflected in the lines at the close of the book:”Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart and the falling through the air of a true, wise friend called Piggy”. This occurs after Ralph has realised that he will be saved from deathbut he is not overcome with unequivocal joy for he understands that he will never be the same. The realisation of safety forces reflective despair by the rescued boys. They have learnt of the innate human savagery within each of us. This is conveyed through the use of figurative language, creating a biblical allusion. The word ‘falling’ alludes to the ‘Fall from Grace” of Adam and Eve in Genesis. Ralph’s words ultimately create a connection between his despair and the theme of loss of innocence. This serves to forewarn humanity of the consequences of the loss of innocence to our society which is the destruction of civilization as we know it. The theme of civilization as opposed to savagery is represented by two competing impulses existing within all humans; those being rules, peace and morals, at odds with violence, the will to achievesupremacy and savagery. Golding implies that savagery is more primal than civilization. When left to their own devices, the boys naturally revert to cruelty. Ralph and Jack are used to present this idea in Lord of the Flies. Ralph is the protagonist symbolising order and leadership, whilst Jack is the antagonist symbolising savagery and the desire for power. The conch shell is symbolic of the desire for power. At the beginning of the novel it is the conch shell which summons the boys together however;it ultimately breaks them apart due to their longing for power and authority. As the boys turn from order, democracy and political legitimacy to savagery, the conch shell loses itspower. This is shown when Ralph clutches the shell when discussing Simon’s death;however it is later ignored in his desperate attempts to call order in Jack’s camp. The boulder used by Roger to kill Piggy destroys the conch shell, as “The conch shell exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist”, signifying the demise of civilization on the island. The novel follows the characters and shows that the way people react to different influences, this is known as the Human Psych, known as a Freudian allegory it is representative of their instincts. Simon possesses natural goodness, known as the ‘superego’. Whereas Jack, is incapable of controlling his desire or comprehending the rules of civilization, this is known as the ‘id’. Ralph the protagonist represents our ‘ego’, promoting order and democracy. Lord of the Fliesemphasises the effects of savagery on a democratic society and ultimately forewarns humanity of the consequences of forcing moral behaviours on civilization rather than allowing individuality. It also depicts the concept of the innate evil within all of us and the consequences of savagery. The motif of biblical parallels is also used to forewarn humanity. These subtle motifs add to the thematic resonance of the novel by echoing images and themes of Christian concepts. Simon’s glade can be compared to the Garden of Eden as it was originally pristine howeveris corrupted by the introduction of evil. The Lord of the Flies can be seen as the Devil who promotes evil within the boy’s civilization. The conversation between Simon and the Beast, parallels Jesus’ confrontation with the Devil, when the Beast says “There isn’t anyone to help you, only me. And I’m the beast...Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill...You knew, didn’t you' I’m part of you” This vision confirms Simon’s speculation that the beast is the boys themselves. It is central to the novel’s exploration of innate human savagery and itsforewarning humanity. The beast taunts Simon with the colloquial, familiar language used by the boys to emphasise the connection between the beast and the boys themselves. Simon, the Christ figure arrives atmoral truth and is sacrificially killed as a consequence of his discovery. There are limits however; to the Lord of the Flies as purely a Christian allegory as it doesn’t develop explicit andprecise parallels. These biblical parallels merely enhance the moral themes of loss of innocence and civilization as opposed to savagery and are not essential to the novel’s interpretation. The main purpose of Speculative fiction is to forewarn humanity. This is seen in Andrew Niccols 1997 Gattaca through the themes of superiority and social outcasts deemed inferior, as well as fate and providence; this is accomplished through costume, lighting and sound. This film critiques the idea of discrimination based on a person’s genetics. Creating a forewarning based on genetic manipulation. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies acts as a forewarning through the themes of civilization as opposed to Savagery and loss of innocence. The novel dramatically portrays the idea that all humans are equipped with an innate savagery, and when left to our own devices we will naturally revert to savagery, causing a loss of innocence. Symbolism and Biblical parallels, discussing original sin, are both used to support this concept. Reflection