Weeks 7 and 8
Science fiction - PKD
1) What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science
fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?
2) According to
Mountfort (2006), what role does the I Ching have as an
organisational device in the structure of Man in the High Castle?
How does the use of this device illuminate the character of the novel’s
protagonists?
3What does Brown (2001) identify as the central themes
and concerns of the novel? What elements conform to the wider generic features
of science fiction?
4) What does Dick(1995) himself theorise about the I Ching?
1) What is the difference in emphasis between the terms science fiction and speculative fiction? Which is The Man in the High Castle?
ReplyDeleteBefore reading the man in the high castle, I have never heard of the term “speculative fiction” I know the word fiction but I had no idea what speculative fiction meant or how it is different from science fiction.
Science fiction is a very broad topic to be defined. Roberts (2006) defines it as “imagining strange worlds we come to see our own conditions of life in a new and potentially revolutionary perspective”.
Speculative fiction is more artistic than science fiction in terms of its literacy sophistication, appreciation of psychological depth and a heightened social awareness (Brown 2001).
It encompasses literature ranging from hard science to epic fantasy. It can demonstrate a variety of genres but still keeps the storyline peculiar and intense and can introduce an alternative history. This is the main plot in the Man in the high castle.
The story man in his castle is a speculative novel because of its psychological depth, sophistication and alternate history world where Nazi Germany and Japan win WWII. It pushes the boundaries of our imaginations, and has borrowed real-life events to make the story different.
References:
Brown, E (2001). Introduction in Dick, P.K. The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin.
Roberts, A. (2006). The history of science fiction. Hapmshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
4) What does Dick(1995) himself theorise about the I Ching?
ReplyDeleteThe I Ching, is also known as the Book of Changes which is an ancient Chinese divination source which was composed in 1100BC. It is still used today quite frequently in both the Western and Eastern societies, as it it believed to predict future outcomes. The I Ching plays a significant role in the novel Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick as many characters refer to it. Dick theories that at first the schizoid-effective person is trapped in his own mind and is cant escape the things they really want to. ccording to Dick (1995), although for instance, a schizophrenic somewhat escapes from reality to a world of their own, “this,while almost true, is not quite correct.”; as he says it, this is because reality only contains an attribute that points you towards a realistic perspective. Therefore, as he values the principles of ‘I Ching’, it almost seems like he implements it in a way that he feels is more comprehensible to his audience.
References:
Dick, P.K. (1995). Schizophrenia and the I Ching. In Sutin, L. (Ed.), The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick (pp.175-182). New York: Vintage
Wikipedia (2012) I Ching.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching
4) What does Dick(1995) himself theorise about the I Ching?
ReplyDeleteThe I Ching, is also known as the Book of Changes which is an ancient Chinese divination source which was composed in 1100BC. It is still used today quite frequently in both the Western and Eastern societies, as it it believed to predict future outcomes. The I Ching plays a significant role in the novel Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick as many characters refer to it. Dick theories that at first the schizoid-effective person is trapped in his own mind and is cant escape the things they really want to. ccording to Dick (1995), although for instance, a schizophrenic somewhat escapes from reality to a world of their own, “this,while almost true, is not quite correct.”; as he says it, this is because reality only contains an attribute that points you towards a realistic perspective. Therefore, as he values the principles of ‘I Ching’, it almost seems like he implements it in a way that he feels is more comprehensible to his audience.
References:
Dick, P.K. (1995). Schizophrenia and the I Ching. In Sutin, L. (Ed.), The Shifting Realities of Philip K. Dick (pp.175-182). New York: Vintage
Wikipedia (2012) I Ching.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Ching
What does Brown (2001) identify as the central themes and concerns of the novel? What elements conform to the wider generic features of science fiction?
ReplyDeleteSome of the central themes and concerns that I recognised from the novel are:
Justice and injustice – which is portrayed through Frink’s distraught when he was fleeing from the Nazi’s persecution.
Gender and power – Conveyed through Juliana’s relationship and involvement with Joe.
Shame and identity – Evident through Childan’s new confidence in terms of adapting to the American culture. In comparison to his obsessions with antiques and nostalgic memoirs.
Fascism and racism on culture – Which showcases the effects of fascism and racism on culture in the novel. In some parts of the story there are highlights which elaborate on and showcase the sadness of life. One part of the novel in particular was during the wake of the Nazi dominance of the World, which lead to the assumptions of ethnic superiority in which the leading races would dominate.
Penetration –One of the most prominent themes from the novel was the question of penetration of true reality into a false reality. The inter-relations of history, truth and creativity. The all coincide each other in order to understand each other.
According to Brown (2001) the central themes in Dicks novel relay the idea of reality because, he understands that Dick was obsessed with the notion that the universe an illusion behind the truth.
Which furthermore leads how Dick utilises Science Fiction to explore his obsession with metaphysics, the nature of perceived reality, good and evil and the abuse of power.
References:
Brown, E (2001). Introduction in Dick, P.K. The Man in the High Castle. London: Penguin.