A Two-Way Funhouse Mirror The Paranormal and the Paranoid in 1990s Science Fiction Media

Slides for my presentation at PCA/ACA 2014

Transcript

1. A Two-Way Funhouse Mirror: The Paranormal and the Paranoid in 1990s Science Fiction Media Aaron Gulyas @firkon | ajgulyas.com Mott Community College Flint, Michigan
2. What and Why?  Paranormal/Conspiracy SF Television  How did they intersect with pre-existing communities which believed in these things?  How can these types of shows serve as a teaching tool for helping students understand American culture in the 1990s?
3. Two (well known?) Examples THE X-FILES DARK SKIES
4. But first, “Alternative 3”  Episode of Science Report, broadcast in the UK June 20, 1977  Meant to have been broadcast April 1, 1977…  An influence that extended far beyond 1977.
5. The X-Files and the Internet
6. Dark Skies  1996-1997, NBC  Draws deeply from contemporary conspiracy and paranormal culture  “History as we know it is a lie”
7. Dark Skies: The Protagonist Needs his (true) story told…
8. Dark Skies: online response
9. Thanks!  aaron.gulyas@mcc.edu  @firkon  ajgulyas.com