Justification of the TopicScience fiction is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, being one of the leading themes in film, novels, plays, and comics. This phenomenon has resulted in what critics refer to as the entertainment science, which essentially refers to the depiction or use of science in entertainment. However, when science is used in these entertainment spheres, the concern is not about the natural nature of the sciences themselves, but rather the various applications of science in the day-to-day lives of the people. Therefore, the main concern here is not the truth of the scientific themes in entertainment, but rather the socioeconomic and political applications of science in the world today.
Therefore, people interact with science in different ways, sometimes without actually knowing the science behind their actions or encounters. The theme of science fiction in entertainment helps people to view science form a different perspective. While science is mostly considered to be a complicated discipline only for the scientist, its application in science fiction makes even the lay men to relate and appreciate science and its influence in their lives. However, there has not been a lot of coverage in extant literature of the relationship between science fiction and real science in term of how people relate with both. This makes this topic very crucial in contributing to a new area of knowledge that is rarely discussed, but crucial in how people understand science today.
Therefore in furtherance of this study, the researcher will seek to conduct a study of some of the few existing studies on this topic to appreciate what they have already covered, but also to pinpoint particular areas that need to be the focus of future studies. This approach wil help bring out some of the major themes covered in literature and which have been guiding discussions on this topic.
Working Introduction and Thesis Statement
The use of science fiction in film, literature, and plays has significantly influenced the way people understand and relate with science. The depiction of science through entertainment platforms like television, film, and theater, has had the impact of removing science from the laboratory into the arena widely dominated by art. Therefore, science fiction can be seen as the point of intersection between science and art. Thus, science fiction has expanded the scope of science in terms of making it appealing to people who would rather never have interacted with science in their day-to-day lives. However, the influence of science fiction on how people perceive real science has not been exhaustively been explored in extant literature. This study seeks to bridge the gap in knowledge by reviewing some of the themes covered contemporary literature for purposes of developing new knowledge, theories, and determining areas of focus for future studies. Nevertheless, science fiction has had a profound impact on how people perceive science in terms of its socioeconomic and political realities.
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