Department of Homeland Security, Summer Movie Edition
DHS is consulting with science-fiction writers on how to improve law enforcement and defense technology, which is awesome. It also makes me feel justified in writing this piece on the continuing relevance of science fiction. But I also feel compelled to say that, as Terminator: Salvation opens this weekend, if you're going to explore sci-fi technology, please, please don't build Skynet.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
You're right in that sci-fi movies or fanboy flicks should receive equal or better treatment compared to the formulaic relationship movies or some WWII flicks. But good sci-fi is not found in comic books and tends to wither under Hollywood lights. Good sci-fi REALLY addresses the fundamental questions: the mind/body problem, origin stories, ethical issues with Phædrus' twist: more than two solutions to the dilemma.
Solaris was an attempt to reach into deeper sci-fi and translate Lem's work to the silver screen. It's box office lack of success despite George Clooney and other eye-candy suggests that it's difficult at best.
Perhaps the problem isn't with sci-fi, but the movies...or more likely the movie industry (critics included).
Perhaps we COULD learn something of use to government from the movies: the difficulty of treating complex problems with simple language, emotional manipulation, and formulaic plots.
Dave B Posted Tuesday, May 26, 2009 9:23 AM