The Abject in Science Fiction Theatre and Marked: A Play in Two Acts
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Date
2016-06
Authors
Maurer, Nicholas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Science fiction is not a genre commonly associated with theatre, as common
misconceptions assert that theatre cannot perform the spectacle science fiction
productions require. Even when done well, science fiction is suppressed as an inferior
genre, that playwrights experiment with before moving on to more serious genres. This
inferiority stems form the fact that since science fiction is naturally set in a future
reality, it cannot rely upon the same dramatic emotions that other theatrical genres can.
Instead of tragedy, whether dramatic or comedic, science fiction must find an
alternative dramatic form. Successful science fiction theatre relies upon the abject, to
produce a sympathetic fear within the audience, in order to deter them from one
possible future reality or another. This thesis project is an analysis of how science
fiction theatre can use the abject to produce this sympathetic, which concludes with my attempt at writing a play text that relies upon the abject. In this thesis, I analyze Jennifer
Haley’s The Nether, Tracy Letts’ Bug, and Joel Silberman’s Human History. The play
text that I have written is called Marked, which is about a a group of clones that attempt
to escape their prison and confront their originals. The play grapples with themes of
discrimination and the deconstruction of a person into their parts.
Description
114 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Theatre Arts and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2016.
Keywords
Science Fiction, Theater Arts, Playwriting, Theater, Uncanny, Abject