The evolution and extinction of science fiction. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hrotic, Steven
• Is Part Of: Public understanding of science. Volume 23:Number 8(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 996
• Page End: 1012
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: anthropology -- cognition -- science fiction -- steampunk -- technology -- Victorian; Science news -- Periodicals; Science -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 303.483
• DOI: 10.1177/0963662513478898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-6625

Abstract

Science fiction literature reflects our constantly evolving attitudes towards science and technological innovations, and the kinds of societal impacts believed possible. The newly popular subgenre 'steampunk' shows that these attitudes have significantly shifted. Examined from a cognitive anthropological perspective, science fiction reveals the cultural evolution of the genre as intelligently designed, and implies a cognitive mechanism of group membership reliant on implicit memory. However, such an analysis also suggests that genre science fiction as it was in the 20th century may no longer exist.