Speculative Fiction Quiz
By Alex Ness
March 28, 2022
I think it could be argued that I was far more serious minded from 1988-1999. I'd finished grad school, knew how to think on heavier level and developed a greater interest in knowing more about people, life and the world of the past and present. One of my stated reasons for going into History and Political Science was to have a means to know what has happened and to have the means to find motives and reasons for what happened in those events. Not to predict behavior, but to understand the motives and mindsets that lead to choices. One area that I wanted to know more about other people wasn't based upon my interest areas. I wanted to understand more what motivated and gave hope and comfort to those people I liked, and those people who cared about but didn't understand deeply enough. I also wanted to know why those who despised me did so.
Prior to becoming a stay at home father, I briefly taught, and wrote freelance articles for numerous small newspapers and publications. I never did enough that allowed me to dive deeply into any subject. And it never paid enough to get myself established in intellectual studies that allowed me to do more than I was doing.
But in time I realized that everyone seems to like the cultural media
that moves them, whether movies, TV, games, books, comics and they have
deep loyalty to their favorites. So I developed a quiz to give to people
to get a feeling for their personal outlook through the mediums of
their presence. It isn't a universal quiz, but was aimed as it was
towards films made in English, featured SciFi or Fantasy, or better to
call it speculative fiction. Answers would suggest an exposure American
culture, and film, but the film franchises offered are known well to 3
generations of Americans. They might, of course, appeal to others, in
other languages as well. I wanted to engage the minds and tastes, and
learn more about the persons being asked.
What film/films or franchise do you identify with or prefer? And why?
1. Alien/Predators
2. Star Trek
3. Star Wars
4. Blade Runner/Terminator/Matrix
5. Indiana Jones/B&W Serials (Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and more).
At the time I had mentally given these values to when the franchises choices were chosen:
1.
The person is a believer in, or perceives the realism of the human
future from Capitalist or Libertarian outlook and real life based fears
and science.
2. This person believes that science will create a utopia and dangers come from our lack of optimism.
3.
The person who prefers this might be a person who believes in
technology and science, but might instead be a person who enjoys
fantasy, however disguised as the future, utilizing heroic eras of a
past.
4. This viewers sees the future as a complex maze of
technology and the fear of Artificial Intelligence, and Cloning, and the
creation of false reality, similar to virtual reality and video game
worlds.
5. This person prefers the simple story, where adventure
appeals to the mind, is romantic and daring but fantasy is less
important so long as the story is based around action.
However, I came to believe that this list doesn't achieve the result
or anything that I had hoped for. Initially I thought that if I'd do it
again, I'd have to add a 6th category/franchise: Excalibur/Legend/LOTR.
I'd then suggest those who choose this category enjoy legend based,
mythic ideals, of heroic people, and the human ability to ascend into
godlike worth.
I was wrong for more than needing the 6th category though. I
don't think this is able to cover the many outlooks of those who like
Speculative fiction. An example of the failures in the endeavor is found
in how limited the questions are, even if people being asked are likely
to be subjects who have watched examples of each category. I think my
quiz falsely assumes that I can delve motive or personal preference by
the sort of film appeals to them the most. The reason I think I can't is
something that people don't often perceive. A Dystopia is often a
failed Utopia. Fears are often what are considered with the loss of
hope. One who enjoys fantasy might enjoy the rush of heroism or ideals
that they, themselves, entertain in their own life, or it is an escape
from the lack of those ideas in their existence. Perhaps, whatever we
want, is one thing, but what we love and would defend is another. One
can be frivolous, the other quite serious.
Maybe now, with that
knowledge, and having learned from my mistakes, I should just ask What
makes you happy, What do you love? and why? Or maybe I should stop
wondering. Or move to a different subject, assuming I am perfect so how
could I ever understand the choices of others. For those who wondered my
answer, it is the Aliens/Predator category. However, I've never been a
capitalist, and the only aspect of Libertarianism I find to be most
interesting is free speech. That might change when America goes to
Martial Law but for now, I suspect the reason I am most moved by this
category is that it felt rather real. Everything else pales in that
respect. If I were to add category 6, I'd suggest that I'd have to
choose that, I absolutely love Heroic Fantasy. And if I don't know why I
do, that would demonstrate the futility of this quiz.
About Getting Reviews from Me
First off, I can be found on Facebook, Twitter or through email at Alexanderness63@gmail.com. I accept hard copies, so when you inquire at any of these places, I'll follow through by telling you my street address. I no longer have a post box, although I regret that. It was a crushing defeat to no longer have a p.o. box, when I came to realize I was getting so little product it made no sense to pay for the privilege to not receive mail at both my home and at the post office. If you send hard copies for review I will always review them, but if you prefer to send pdf or ebooks to my email, I will review these at my discretion. I don't share my pdf/ebooks, so you can avoid worry that I'd dispense them for free to others.
MY LINKS:
My Poetry AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com
Published Work AlexNessPoetry.Blogspot.Com/2007/01/My-Work.html
Amazon Page Amazon.com/author/AlexNess
Cthulhu Horror CthulhuDarkness.Blogspot.Com
Atlantis & Lost Worlds AlexNessLostWorlds.Blogspot.Com
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