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Over the Moon:. 7 th Grade Science Fiction. Week 2. Pulp History. Day One:. Throughout the history of Science Fiction , art and illustration have played a huge role in defining the genre in negative and positive ways. <- Wouldn’t you judge this book by its cover?.
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Over the Moon: 7th Grade Science Fiction Week 2
Pulp History Day One: Throughout the history of Science Fiction, art and illustration have played a huge role in defining the genre in negative and positive ways. <- Wouldn’t you judge this book by its cover?
Pulp science fiction magazines were notorious for their gaudy covers • the first pulp magazines were published in the 1920s • These magazines contained science fiction short stories, comics, and advertisements • They were marketed to young men and sold for as little as a nickel • Considered “trashy” literature by the wider public at the time, but started the careers of many famous authors: Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. Leguin, Philip K. Dick. • “Science Fiction is a constant struggle for respectability.” – George R.R. Martin • - What do you think G.R.R.M. means by this statement?
Round-Robin Pulp • Groups of 3-4 • Each group will be assigned a station and a pulpy science fiction cover illustration • Work together with your group-mates to start writing a story based on your illustration. • When the time’s up, you’ll move to the next picture – continue the story that’s been started. • Show, don’t tell! • Be sure you are participating. We’ll be marking responsibility points for your contributions!
The other side… • Science fiction writing has also inspired work considered to be beautiful, both in art and film.
Argument Writing • 1. Science fiction is a beautiful genre because… • 2. Science Fiction is an ugly genre because… • 3. Conclusion: • Which side of the argument do you believe?
Day Two: Consequences of Progress “There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury Ray Bradbury was one of the fathers of modern science fiction. His novels The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451 remain classics to this day.
Much of Bradbury’s fiction is critical of modern society’s obsession with new media. In451, he challenges the American government for censoring books. His protagonist is a fireman named Guy Montag, who is paid to burn books in a society where reading is illegal. Ironically, the book ended up on many school “banned book” lists. • Does this sound utopian, or dystopian?
“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Sara Teasdale There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, And swallows circling with their shimmering sound; And frogs in the pools, singing at night, And wild plum trees in tremulous white, Robins will wear their feathery fire, Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire; And not one will know of the war, not one Will care at last when it is done. Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree, If mankind perished utterly; And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn, Would scarcely know that we were gone. Man vs. Nature, or Man vs. Man?
Hiroshima (click image for video) Read “There Will Come Soft Rains” as a class. • *Closed Reading – any time there are italics in the story, read along with me.
Argument Writing • “Nuclear weapons – weapons of mass destruction – are necessary to helping mankind maintain world peace.” • Agree or disagree? (1 paragraph) • Do you think Ray Bradbury would agree or disagree? (1 paragraph) • (Play this during writing.)
Day Three: Racing for Rights The space race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union (Russia) and the United States (US) for supremacy in space exploration.
Day Three: Racing for Rights • The Cold War: • Two superpower nations with nuclear weapons who didn’t dare engage in actual battles for fear of mutual destruction. • “Psychological warfare”
Capitalism vs. Communism Capitalism is an economic system where things are owned by people, not by a government, and where people have to barter or work for money, so they can buy things they need or want, such as food. Communism is an economic system that says that there should not be social classes or states. Communism says that the people of any and every place in the world should all own the tools, factories, and farms that are used to produce goods and food. People work in exchange for whatever they need to live. USA USSR Both systems want equality, but by different means.
The price of technology… Laika was the first animal to ever go into space. She was a female Russian mutt taken from the streets and placed in a satellite. Her journey into orbit represented a Russian victory in the space race. The Americans were also trying to put animals in space. Laika’s story didn’t end happily, however.
Animals and Science For years animals have been used to help advance medicinal and scientific fields, often to mankind’s great benefit. The following were made possible by animal testing: - Life support machines - dialysis - asthma drugs All drugs have to be tested on animals before human beings, by law.
Argument Writing It’s a good idea to use animals to progress science and medicine, and here’s why… It’s a bad idea to use animals to progress science and medicine, and here’s why… 3. My opinion on this subject…
Day Four: Populate Your Worlds • Earlier you invented two science fiction settings: a utopia and a dystopia. Now you’ll invent two characters -- one from each setting. • Create two character profile cards. • On the blank side: a color illustration. • On the lined side: • 1. Where were they born/made? Are they human? • 2. Character traits? • 3. How has society influenced their lives? • 4. What do they want to be? • 5. What makes them Science Fictional?
