SOURCE 1
TITLE: Science Fiction and Gender Wars
AUTHOR: RamzPaul
DATE: 14/10/2009
TYPE: BlogSpot
URL: http://www.ramzpaul.com/2009/10/science-fiction-and-gender-wars.html
1) Character
This first source is a blog from a blogspot. The author of this blog focuses on how feminist ideology has changed the direction of science fiction over the last decade and the pro’s and con’s of these changes. This source is basically a review of another article that had recently gone viral, thus all the information gathered came from one source, which questions it credibility. Despite the source’s questionable reliability, it does not present a simplistic view on the topic, but rather presenting deep and thought provoking ideas. Furthermore, being created in 2009, the source is still relevant in contemporary society and the ideas that are being presented are still significant today.
2) Intention and Author/ity
This source is a blog, thus it simply portrays the personal opinions of the author. This means the intention of the source is to express one attitude towards a particular topic rather than presenting facts and research. As a result of this, no scholarly authority is offered in this information. No references, apart from the article that is being discussed, are given so that the arguments and perspectives could be further assessed and verified. However, despite the sources’ lack of scholarly authority, it still presents useful information.
3) Relevance to Research Topic
The material is worth reading as gives a particular viewpoint on the topic being researched, however, it could not be used as the sole or main source of research. With so many blogs online these days, the quality of information out there is becoming more a matter of opinion rather than fact. However, some bloggers do present links and references to sources that support their arguments, which are appropriate for research at a university level.
SOURCE 2
TITLE: The War on Science Fiction and Marvin Minsky
AUTHOR: Pro-Male/Anti-Feminist Tech
DATE: 09/10/2009
TYPE: Online Article
URL: http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/10/09/the-war-on-science-fiction-and-marvin-minsky/#comment-2382
1) Character
This second source is an online article from the online magazine, The Spearhead. The author of this article focuses on “the war on science fiction” and how feminism has threatened to change, and has changed, the nature of the science fiction genre. This article only engages with the topic on a simplistic level, offering only examples and not providing a deeper insight to the issues. The article is fairly recent, and thus all topics covered are still relevant.
2) Intention and Author/ity
This source is an article, and thus the author is trying to present a certain argument on the topic. This means that, once again, the authors’ intention is to present one side of the argument in a persuasive way. The article is extremely biased. The magazine it was written for was created for “American men, particularly those of the post-boomer generations”. This in itself makes its attitudes towards feminism bleak and given that the ‘name’ of the author is ‘Pro-Male/Anti-Feminist Tech’, it is clear to see that the article too is somewhat biased. However, the source does offer some scholarly authority as it provides references to other sources, but the credibility of these sources is also questionable.
3) Relevance to Research Topic
The article illustrates how feminism has changed the nature of science fiction by using examples from real life, many of which are popular and well known, which makes it appealing and easy to read. This, however, is also its downfall. The article focuses on examples rather than the real issues and themes that need to be researched thoroughly for this essay. With this said, this article is suitable for this type of research essay, but shouldn’t be used as the sole research material.
SOURCE 3
TITLE: Sci-Fi Racial Stereotypes
AUTHOR: BoneRiceFilms
DATE: 25/03/2009
TYPE: Video
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tbiK6cPUU
1) Character
This third source is a youtube video. It basically highlights the subtle racial differentiations in the classic Star Wars films and the television show, Stargate. This video engages with the research topic on very simplistic and basic level, at times even making a mockery of the issues being researched.
2) Intention and Author/ity
This video was made as part of a group presentation on race and gender in popular Science Fiction. The part of the video about Star Wars is supposedly based on an article on the same topic, however a name or any information about this article is not included. This brings into question the credibility of the sources used by the author and thus means this source has no scholarly authority.
3) Relevance to Research Topic
This source is relevant to the research topic, but in no way is a credible source that could be used in a university research assignment of this type.
SOURCE 4
TITLE: (Re)reading Queerly: Science Fiction, Feminism, and the Defamiliarization of Gender
AUTHOR: Veronica Hollinger
DATE: 03/1999
TYPE: Journal Article
URL: http://links.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.uwa.edu.au/stable/4240749?seq=1
1) Character
This article focuses on how gender has been constructed in science fiction works written by women. It deals with the said topic on a deep and complex level, offering a great deal of insight and valid arguments. The article was written in the late 1990’s and thus, the only criticism that could be used against it is whether or not it is slightly out dated.
2) Intention and Author/ity
This source is a journal article, and was therefore created in order to explore a certain issue in as much depth and detail as possible. This article has scholarly authority as it was published in Science Fiction Studies, a scholarly journal devoted to the study of the genre of science fiction based at DePauw University. The reliability of this source is further emphasized by the lengthy list of references at the ends of the article. All these factors indicate that this article is more than reliable as a research material.
3) Relevance to Research Topic
The material in this article is definitely at an appropriate level for the research task and contains information that can be used at a university level. The reliability and usefulness of the information makes this article an essential research material.
SOURCE 5
TITLE: Things That Don’t Go Away: Race and Science Fiction (Part I)
AUTHOR: Sarah Zettel
DATE: 31/01/2009
TYPE: Online Article
URL: http://www.bscreview.com/2009/01/race-and-science-fiction-part-i-by-sarah-zettel/
1) Character
This article focuses on “how writers of American speculative fiction should/shouldn’t, do/don’t, can/can’t present people/beings who are not white, American and male.” the article offers to explain the reason why this phenomenon occurs, but as a result fails to deal with the topic on a deeper level.
2) Intention and Author/ity
This source is an online article and was evidently created to express the viewpoint of the author. The article has a small amount of scholarly authority claiming that the author has written 14 novels and numerous short stories. The site then goes on the list the awards she has won and the work that she currently does. However, no references are offered so her arguments can be followed up on, which then questions whether the source in reliable or not and seems as if the site is trying to convince the reader that the author’s article is credible.
3) Relevance to Research Topic
The material in this article is somewhat useful, however, it is no appropriate for this type of research essay. It offers little solid information on the topic and appears to simply be a rant from the author, barely offering reasoning behind the argument.
CONCLUSION
After finding these sources it has become evident that research time and effort could be spent more wisely online rather than consulting conventional print sources because the Internet is constantly being updated. New ideas and opinions come to light everyday online, compared with books which, on a topic like gender roles in science fiction, can become outdated very quickly, especially in our modern, fast-paced society. However, conventional print sources are still extremely useful and essential in research as well.
CITATIONS
Sci-Fi Racial Stereotypes” < http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=q8tbiK6cPUU> 25th March 2009 [accessed 04/09/2010]
Pro-Male/Anti-Feminist Tech, “The War on Science Fiction and Marvin Minsky” <http://www.the-spearhead.com/2009/10/09/the-war-on-science-fiction-and-marvin-minsky/#comment-2382> 9th October 2009 [accessed 07/09/2010]
RamZpaul, “Science Fiction and Gender Wars”<http://www.ramzpaul.com/ 2009/ 10/ science-fiction-and-gender-wars.html> 14th October 2009 [accessed 08/09/2010]
Sarah Zettel, “Things That Don’t Go Away: Race and Science Fiction (Part I)” <http://www.bscreview.com/2009/01/race-and-science-fiction-part-i-by-sarah-zettel/> 21st January 2009 [accessed 08/09/2010]
Veronica Hollinger, “(Re)reading Queerly: Science Fiction, Feminism, and the Defamiliarization of Gender” <http://links.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.uwa.edu.au/ stable/ 4240749?seq=1> March 1999 [accessed 07/09/2010]
I just realised that I didnt post the question I did.
ReplyDeleteIf science fiction is a genre that imagines our future, what happens to gender and race? (you can apply this question to literary or cinematic sf)