That's completely absurd. I mean, it would be nice if science-fiction screenwriters remembered that space has no sound, but trying to codify it just makes me laugh. How many of those professors were inspired to study astrophysics because of Star Wars or Star Trek? I don't know a lot about Trek, but I know that Star Wars is crap at any kind of actual spacey science. Or laser science. They're not too shabby with CGI science, though... ;)
Exactly! I mean, I'm actually all for film and television using more science, but... if you start saying they're not allowed to use more than one non-scientific idea - okay, we'll give 'em space travel, but then they're not allowed laser guns. Or phasers. And definitely no time travel at the same time. Or teleports. Or... god, just about any of the science fiction staples of the past! It's called imagination, it's called playing with the human psyche, it's called... oh, so many things that they clearly don't value as part of being human! And yeah - I bet none of them would be there today if their imagination hadn't been captured at some point with the idea of what if, even if they were later proved wrong... *headdesk*
Have they not noticed or understood the word 'fiction' or what? It boggles the mind quite frankly. God, I hope these people get no suppport for their crazy ideas. *sigh* We watched the movie, The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer last night. It was completely barmy but *huge* fun. Is that it? Are these people after taking the *fun* out of life? They need to look at tennis balls in 'robin' fancy dress occasionally... *snort*
Ah, no, you see you should have paid more attention in your science classes, because a tennis ball couldn't actually wear a fancy dress costume. It doesn't have sentience, so the term fancy dress, which refers to the state of mind, rather than the specific material attributes of the costume... *headdesk*
The frightening thing is that they seem to have some support already - and I'm all for the movies reflecting accurate science, but that's a whole different kind of movie, not science fiction! Just... I'm just so in disbelief! Do they understand nothing of the way people's minds work?! Did they never see Logan's Run, or... ha - clearly they need to watch more science fiction! Still, maybe it'll be good for the British sci-fi film industry... *vbg*
While I think it's a bad idea, I suppose I can understand why they would feel the need for something like this. With less and less people believing in Climate Change (as if it's like the tooth fairy,) and the debate that's still raging over evolution, I can see how scientists would like the general population exposed to more real science. Too many people believe anything they see, equating theory with idea and having not one clue as to what the scientific method means.
Actually, most science fiction movies nowadays are more fantasy than science fiction and should probably be labeled that way. Once upon a time science fiction did mean fiction with a scientific base, I suppose what is now called hard science fiction.
Yeah, I totally get that it'd be good to have more science in films, to make it interesting and sexy - but to say they shouldn't be allowed?! Smacks of some serious censorship to me... It's way too easy to corrupt and politicise as well - how long before the creationists claim that since you can't "prove" evolution any more than their particular brand of pap that it shouldn't be considered "scientific truth"?
The place to teach people not to believe everything they see is not the place that is built on the enjoyment of fantasy, and fulfils a human need for fantasy! If people are gullible enough to believe that everything they see is possible, then there's a major problem on a much deeper level than just in Hollywood! (And actually I absolutely think there is, come to that... *g*)
I take your point about the idea of "hard" science fiction, but I'm as concerned about going down that route as I am between being prescriptive about "hard" science vs "soft" science, to be honest. The one is not more valuable than the other, they're
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Yeah, I totally get that it'd be good to have more science in films, to make it interesting and sexy - but to say they shouldn't be allowed?! Smacks of some serious censorship to me... It's way too easy to corrupt and politicise as well - how long before the creationists claim that since you can't "prove" evolution any more than their particular brand of pap that it shouldn't be considered "scientific truth"?
Oh, I totally agree with you. It would be far to easy for creationist to do something like that... though it would interesting when they got around to disavowing gravity since it's described using the general theory of relativity.
The place to teach people not to believe everything they see is not the place that is built on the enjoyment of fantasy, and fulfils a human need for fantasy! If people are gullible enough to believe that everything they see is possible, then there's a major problem on a much deeper level than just in Hollywood! (And actually I absolutely think there is, come to that... *g*)
yay for more snow - what a wonderfully wintery winter!
It snowed here last week while we were away - it was strange driving south on Friday, and running into snow only south of Chester. Lots more snow on Saturday night, but after the sun shone yesterday it's only stayed in shady, north-facing places.
It must have been heading your way - I just saw that snow has caused problems at Luton airport today.
Ah, well-timed for you then I guess?! I have a feeling ours will be rained away shortly - it's pretty wet-feeling out there... Roads'll be nastier tomorrow, I suspect...
The queues into Cambs. were mad this morning - all the way back through Barton when I was trying to get to the M11. I'm blaming posh parents (it's the route to a number of private schools) deciding to take their ickle darlings in an hour late due to snow, myself...
See, I read this and see it as encouraging imagination rather than limiting it. You want giant insects? Great! Figure out a way to set up the circumstances where they would really exist. That's cool. I love imagination allied with intelligence. I'm less thrilled (although can still quite enjoy) films that are completely unrealistic. So, I think these guidelines are both amusing (only transgress one law), and interesting.
I know what you're objecting to is the language that implies this proposal would somehow become a requirement. Except, of course, the guidelines could never be enforced in any way--no legislation is possible; no way to require anyone to "obey". There's no threat here to Hollywood writers. Alas. *g* They will continue to transgress all the laws of physics and common sense with their usual flair (or lack of imagination.) *g*
Lol - I think you've got a fairly optimistic reading going on there, to be honest. Sometimes a story has nothing to do with realism - the story isn't about how giant insects came to evolve, it's about how PersonA copes with PersonB while under the most bizarre situation ever. Having to "set up the circumstances where they would really exist" has nothing to do with the actual plot in that case, and would be a huge explain-y distraction to it
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The frightening thing is that they seem to have some support already - and I'm all for the movies reflecting accurate science, but that's a whole different kind of movie, not science fiction! Just... I'm just so in disbelief! Do they understand nothing of the way people's minds work?! Did they never see Logan's Run, or... ha - clearly they need to watch more science fiction! Still, maybe it'll be good for the British sci-fi film industry... *vbg*
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Actually, most science fiction movies nowadays are more fantasy than science fiction and should probably be labeled that way. Once upon a time science fiction did mean fiction with a scientific base, I suppose what is now called hard science fiction.
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The place to teach people not to believe everything they see is not the place that is built on the enjoyment of fantasy, and fulfils a human need for fantasy! If people are gullible enough to believe that everything they see is possible, then there's a major problem on a much deeper level than just in Hollywood! (And actually I absolutely think there is, come to that... *g*)
I take your point about the idea of "hard" science fiction, but I'm as concerned about going down that route as I am between being prescriptive about "hard" science vs "soft" science, to be honest. The one is not more valuable than the other, they're ( ... )
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Oh, I totally agree with you. It would be far to easy for creationist to do something like that... though it would interesting when they got around to disavowing gravity since it's described using the general theory of relativity.
The place to teach people not to believe everything they see is not the place that is built on the enjoyment of fantasy, and fulfils a human need for fantasy! If people are gullible enough to believe that everything they see is possible, then there's a major problem on a much deeper level than just in Hollywood! (And actually I absolutely think there is, come to that... *g*)
Uh, yeah. *g*
I take ( ... )
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It snowed here last week while we were away - it was strange driving south on Friday, and running into snow only south of Chester. Lots more snow on Saturday night, but after the sun shone yesterday it's only stayed in shady, north-facing places.
It must have been heading your way - I just saw that snow has caused problems at Luton airport today.
Reply
The queues into Cambs. were mad this morning - all the way back through Barton when I was trying to get to the M11. I'm blaming posh parents (it's the route to a number of private schools) deciding to take their ickle darlings in an hour late due to snow, myself...
Reply
I know what you're objecting to is the language that implies this proposal would somehow become a requirement. Except, of course, the guidelines could never be enforced in any way--no legislation is possible; no way to require anyone to "obey". There's no threat here to Hollywood writers. Alas. *g* They will continue to transgress all the laws of physics and common sense with their usual flair (or lack of imagination.) *g*
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