2. Conventi
ons
• Science-fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that contains imagined
elements that don’t exist in the real world. Science-fiction covers a wide range of
themes that often explore time travel and space travel, the conventions that make
science fiction identifiable as a genre are elements and ideas that are not possible
within our current society.
• Some conventions of sci-fi share similar aspects as the horror genre conventions,
for example, the establishing shots of both sci-fi and horror typically show a
large expanse of area; the science-films usually show an area that is different to what
the audience know, usually a futuristic city whereas the horror genre typically shows
an area the audience are familiar with or relate to.
3. Features
• Most science fiction media explores a “what if” question. This is
a hypothetical question or idea that sparks the audience's imagination.
• Time travel.
• Teleportation.
• Mind control, telepathy and telekinesis.
• Aliens, extraterrestrial lifeforms and mutants.
• Space travel and exploration.
• Interplanetary warfare.
• Parallel universes.
• Fictional worlds.
4. Sci-fi conventions in The Last
of Us
• The Last of Us is considered as a science-fiction series because of
the infection that is the key focus of the series. It is based on a real-world
fungus that attacks and infects insects, changes their behaviour and
eventually kills them. As the cordyceps is not able to infect humans yet, the
idea that it can in the series makes it a ‘what if’ question. The fungus
controlling the humans mind includes the sci-fi convention of mind control.
• The unfamiliar setting of overgrown and crumbling cities and the
extreme living conditions creates a fictional world that the viewers cannot
relate to, making it memorable for the audience. The subtle critiques of
society from this post-apocalyptic setting has an impactful effect on the
viewers.
