Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy
This thesis considers space opera as a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy.“Falling Stars,” the creative component which includes fantasy, space opera and science fiction stories, constitutes a spectrum of speculative fiction. In order to illustrate the similarities and difference between the...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Curtin University
2004
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1082 |
| _version_ | 1848743566152564736 |
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| author | Cupitt, Catherine Anne |
| author_facet | Cupitt, Catherine Anne |
| author_sort | Cupitt, Catherine Anne |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This thesis considers space opera as a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy.“Falling Stars,” the creative component which includes fantasy, space opera and science fiction stories, constitutes a spectrum of speculative fiction. In order to illustrate the similarities and difference between the genres represented in the spectrum, I focus on the central figure of the alien other and the ways in which such a figure can be gendered and embodied. The space opera novella combines motifs of both fantasy and science fiction within the figure of the cyborg, Orlando, who is transgendered and hyperchangeably embodied.The exegesis offers a theoretical context through which to view the creative work. I argue that space operas are melodramatic adventure stories, which operate as a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy, using the non-realist expectations inherent in both, but mixing the extrapolations and icons of science fiction with the self-consistent but unbelievable discontinuities of fantasy. I also consider space opera’s tendency to exhibit a conservative, unexamined colonialistic imperative, with the attendant assumptions that create a potential for feminist subversion. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:47:36Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-1082 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:47:36Z |
| publishDate | 2004 |
| publisher | Curtin University |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-10822017-02-20T06:39:51Z Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy Cupitt, Catherine Anne extrapolations and icons fantasy space opera science fiction hybrid form motifs melodramatic adventure stories This thesis considers space opera as a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy.“Falling Stars,” the creative component which includes fantasy, space opera and science fiction stories, constitutes a spectrum of speculative fiction. In order to illustrate the similarities and difference between the genres represented in the spectrum, I focus on the central figure of the alien other and the ways in which such a figure can be gendered and embodied. The space opera novella combines motifs of both fantasy and science fiction within the figure of the cyborg, Orlando, who is transgendered and hyperchangeably embodied.The exegesis offers a theoretical context through which to view the creative work. I argue that space operas are melodramatic adventure stories, which operate as a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy, using the non-realist expectations inherent in both, but mixing the extrapolations and icons of science fiction with the self-consistent but unbelievable discontinuities of fantasy. I also consider space opera’s tendency to exhibit a conservative, unexamined colonialistic imperative, with the attendant assumptions that create a potential for feminist subversion. 2004 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1082 en Curtin University fulltext |
| spellingShingle | extrapolations and icons fantasy space opera science fiction hybrid form motifs melodramatic adventure stories Cupitt, Catherine Anne Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title | Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title_full | Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title_fullStr | Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title_short | Space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| title_sort | space opera: a hybrid form of science fiction and fantasy |
| topic | extrapolations and icons fantasy space opera science fiction hybrid form motifs melodramatic adventure stories |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/1082 |