"Big, weird questions."

 

Science fiction asks big, weird questions.
These questions involve incredible if not impossible things: futuristic technology, aliens, giants monsters, intelligent robots, people with amazing powers, and more. 

This exhibition explores a few of these big “what if” questions. For each, we present a variety of works by writers, filmmakers, artists and other creators who answer them. Their answers can be equally big and weird, also starting, serious, astounding and funny. 

Because anything is possible in science fiction, there are an infinite number of answers to these questions. 

As you encounter the questions, ask yourself what answers you would give. 

And a last question: who cares? What do stories about other worlds have to do with us? The fact is, all the bizarre stuff in science fiction is a metaphor for real stuff. In other words, science fiction warps reality in order to reveal the truth about it. 

Brooks Peck, Curator, Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame.

I recently paid a visit to Seattle - it's been a few years since I've been down, and as such I decided that a quick trip across the border was long overdue.  I quite like Seattle:  I like the general feel of the city, the architecture is interesting, I enjoy the Pike Place Market, and, of course, it's impossible for me to visit Seattle without making a stop at the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and Museum, located at the Seattle Centre in the distinctive EMP building designed by architect Frank Gehrey.

It would have been quite easy for the museum to be nothing more than a catalogue of leftover movie props, but the curators have certainly done their best to offer the public a thoughtful, balanced range of representation that deals with both the literary and visual aspects of the genre.  They've been well supported in this by the wide range of items that have been donated or loaned to the museum by the science fiction and fantasy community over the years.

For example, whereas the current Fantasy exhibition includes costumes and props from films such as The Wizard of Oz, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Snow White and the Huntsman, it also offers the original manuscript for Ursula K. LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea, along with her notes for the development of the Earthsea series, and samples from the manuscript for The Lord of the Rings and a handwritten chronology created by Tolkien as a guide when he was working on the trilogy.  It also features original illustrations by Pauline Baynes, whose paintings and drawings perfectly defined the world of C. S. Lewis' Narnia.

The individuals involved in presenting the exhibits are obviously creative and innovative people.  The video narrative that accompanies the Fantasy exhibition is shown on two overhead globular screens - the eyes of a gigantic inverted dragonfly.  Interactivity is provided by a world-building tool that allows users the opportunity to draft maps of their own fantasy worlds and add them to the catalogue of previous creations by other visitors.

The companion display for the Icons of Science Fiction is based around an exploration of the what-if questions that have always represented the best of the genre.  What if we could explore the universe?  What if you had super powers?  What if you were going to live the rest of your life in space?

Once again, where it would be easy to simply examine these questions solely based on examples from movies and television, the Icons exhibit cites references from novels and comic books as well, providing a well-rounded and thought-provoking look at the building blocks of science fiction.

Originally the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame was its own little piece of the action, and frankly I miss the original entrance with its cheesy alien spaceship.  They were amalgamated with the Experience Music Project in 2011, and I'm not sure that the SF portion has benefited from the change - I seem to recall the original exhibition as being larger and more elaborate than the current facility, and it definitely featured a more prestigious array of exhibits.

Past glories aside, I still enjoyed my visit to the museum.  As I've already said, it's obvious that the people behind the scenes are making every effort to go past the veneer of dragons and robots to look at the ideas behind fantasy and science fiction, and in my opinion, successfully accomplishing that goal.

The funny thing is that I'm not sure I can recommend the Science Fiction Museum to people who aren't already fans in some way. Think about it:  would you seriously recommend that someone visit the Louvre in Paris if they'd never heard of Leonardo da Vinci or the Mona Lisa?

- Sid

"Attack ships on fire..."

 

I have to admit to one distinct disappointment with the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who - I was underwhelmed by the mundanity of the weapons used by the Time Lords in their final struggle with the Daleks.

During the scenes showing the battle for Arcadia, as the Daleks strafe the ruined city and rumble through its shattered streets, the Gallifreyan soldiers seem to be fighting them with what are admittedly advanced weapons of some sort - lasers, plasma rifles, some form of energy weapon - but, when it comes right down to it, nothing extraordinary, nothing startling.

I've discussed the possibilities of a time war in the past, but let's apply some of those ideas to the milieu of Doctor Who.  Imagine a fleet of TARDISes*, freed from the humble illusion that cloaks the Doctor's home: gigantic constructs, armed and armoured for an ultimate war, powered by the energy of the universe itself and equipped with weapons created by a race that has mastered time and space, flickering in and out of existence as they strike in an instant and then vanish back into the time stream. Imagine a soldier wielding the Gauntlets of Rassilon, annihilating their foes with a gesture, or resurrecting fallen comrades with a touch of the hand.**

Logically, the Time Lords don't even need to restrict themselves to their own inventions - after all, they can choose from an arsenal which encompasses the entire span of history, find a shield against any assault within the blink of an eye, and discover an antithesis to any defense raised by their enemy.  When you consider all of the possibilities open to time travellers, it's surprising that the Daleks appear to be winning.

Which, come to think of it, is a damn good question.  Why are the Daleks winning? 

- Sid

* TARDISI?

** Okay, you got me.  They never definitively said that the Resurrection Gloves from Torchwood were in any way connected to the Gauntlet of Rassilon, but they do look surprisingly similar.

What am I missing here?

 One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the others

By the time I finish my song?

Sesame Street

Another rainy Saturday afternoon in Vancouver, a good day to stay inside and perhaps watch some television, do a little channel hopping.

Let's see...what do we have?  Channel 32 appears to be in the middle of showing all of the Star Wars prequels, with Attack of the Clones currently up; there's The Mummy Returns, not as good as the first Brenda Fraser/Rachel Weisz teamup, but okay; History is showing the over-the-top apocalyptic extravaganza 2012, TCM has The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, one of Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion masterpieces, which also features Doctor Who alumnus Tom Baker; Tomb Raider is on channel 47 for the Angelina Jolie fans in the audience - and what is Space showing?

The A-Team.  Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Quinton Jackson.  Based on the TV series of the same name.

Seriously, people, where does this fit in your programming mandate?  Right beside shark movies?  SHOW SOME SCIENCE FICTION, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.

Wait a minute, though - for that matter, why in the world is the History Channel showing 2012?

- Sid