Test 1

Question 1

Vera Pavlovna’s 4th Dream (author/year/significance)

Answer 1

Chernyshevsky, 1863

• story of scientific utopia run by technical experts, Vera Rozalsky’s 4 allegorical dreams
• dream is from antiquity to present, beautiful women seen as objects/gods, communal dining, free choice, socialist, talents, work/pleasure aspects
• inspired Bolshevik revolution, radicalized Russians (esp. Lenin)
• consequences of book: rational egoism, critique by Dostoevsky

Question 2

Dream of a Ridiculous Man (author/year/significance)

Answer 2

Dostoevsky, 1877

• critique of Chernyshevsky, his ideas lead to war/concentration camps/extermination
• story discusses psychological crisis, utopia is replica of our world and dream utopia before corruption
• science as corruption
• ideal utopia: no jealousy/lying, love nature, one language, innocent, understanding
• utopia falls apart with lie, then sensuality, cruelty that leads to division/war, nature/animals withdraw, humans isolated = individualism, new languages/flags, love suffers, loss of faith = corrupted world

Question 3

Red Star (author/year/significance)

Answer 3

Bogdanov, 1908

• did blood transfusion work
• story of Leonid who goes to Mars, learns about Martians and interacts
• Leonid: not individualistic (only a little), passive, accepting, radical revolutionary, life over morals, “russian-ness”, ideal
• story asks what happiness is, show two different perspectives on revolution (Netti/Sterni), optimism for future, peaceful change over violence
• novum: Martians/space travel/technology

Question 4

Aelita: Queen of Mars (author/year/significance)

Answer 4

Protazenov, 1924

• first soviet SF film, first ever about interplanetary flight, extremely pro-Lenin and anti-Bogdanov (revolution must precede cultural change- Sterni, limited stance shown in film)
• publicity campaign before release, constructivist sets, distinct attire/sets
• takes place in 1921 during Lenin revolution, system of mixed economy (NEPmen)
• Moscow shows victory of civil war, some capitalist measures, building socialism, Mars represents western society
• Los: main, above working class, engineer, too individual
• corruption/individualism BAD

Question 5

Cosmic Voyage (author/year/significance)

Answer 5

Zhuravlov, 1936

• part of project to make films for youth (Komsomol)
• takes place 1946, big budget, released then removed by Soviet sensors
• Tsiolkovsky involved in films 6 essential elements for scientific accuracy
• pro-soviet: rocket is Joseph Stalin, phallic symbol
• soviet ideology: man/woman/child dynamic (family), comrades, egalitarian project, soviets first to moon, loyalty, animal companion, Utopia is in USSR, technology/ideology parallel, voyage itself (spreads utopia)

Question 6

The Andromeda Nebula (author/year/significance)

Answer 6

Sherstobitov, 1967

• based on 1957 novel by Efremov (communist SF writer)
• supposed to be series but failed critically
• socialist utopia, gender difference, nature-oriented, symbolic but NOT for Stalin
• Split of utopia and Tantra rocket crew, 1000s years in future, suffering as big concept (Erg choosing not to erase his mind of love, to continue suffering, choses emotions anyway) “new man” soviet project
• novum: cosmic ring, iron star (dark/red atmosphere, represents anti-Stalin), spaceship sail (Tantra’s twin, shows past/present/future), message from another planet

Question 7

Fully explain Suvin’s definition of SF (literary genre who needs interaction of estrangement and cognition which is achieved through the narrative dominance of a fictional novum validated by cognitive logic) in your own words. Break down what Suvin means by the following terms: (1) estrangement, (2) cognition, (3) novum, (4) cognitive logic.

Answer 7

Estrangement and cognition interact together to present an alternative imaginary world, the estrangement is achieved through the narrative dominance of a fictional novum, then validated with cognitive logic (with technoscientific methods) this world is by default estranged, then the novum (some object) must both entail a change in the whole universe of the tale and also relate to the reader’s own reality with laws that mimic laws of the world we know. This is backed up with cognitive logic.

Question 8

Explain what novum is and how it functions in science fiction

Answer 8

Novum is a historical innovation/novelty in a SF text where it compares the world of the tale from the world of the reader. Functions as radical instead of supernatural, and can be an invention or discovery (ex: magic wand, robot, bomb, technology, etc.)

Question 9

According to Suvin, what do Science Fiction and Utopia have in common? Describe 4 major commonalities shared by science fiction and utopia according to Suvin

Answer 9

They are both similar with minor changes in storyline and themes

• both compare imagined world with the author’s real one, they both first ask why/how it arises under what needs, both are a historically alternative wishful fulfillment crafted by men, both set in radically different places than author’s world, both ask how man will continue to exist in the future
• but SF usually has more satire

Question 10

Describe the utopian society Vera Pavlovna is shown in her dream and should explain three of the major characters in this utopia

Answer 10

The society is an ideal soviet utopia, a good place

• beautiful women not seen as human (seen as property, sexual, untouchable, pure) -communal dining (but can eat alone)
• free awesome food (options too)
• socialist (basic needs are given)
• freedom of choice (but most have similar preferences)
• talents (music/singing talent)
• work (work as pleasure, specific tasks, kids get easier work, pleasant conditions, moral/physical benefits)

Question 11

Explain how Dostoevsky’s “Dream of a Ridiculous Man” challenges Chernyshevsky’s vision on utopia and reliance upon rational egoism

Answer 11

• critiques the ideal society idea, says it leads to war, extermination (Red Terror, Internment Camps, etc.)
• Chernyshevsky says enlightenment/science leads to utopia while Dostoevsky says it leads to corruption
• Doesn’t believe in rational egoism- says who is this man to make the standards? Thinks it’s naïve and too self-serving (aka. The ridiculous man)

Question 12

The ridiculous man lists a number of corruption consequences that viewers could regard as “good”, why are these good things “bad” in ridiculous man? Use 2 examples from list

Answer 12

-These “good” things are seen as “bad” because they lead to undermining the overall communal goal for an ideal society
-sensuality (leads to jealousy)
-new language (separates people)
-individuality bad (separates people)
flags (too much separation),
-honor as bad for self
-science as bad because it leads to corruption.

Question 13

Describe three of the Russian cosmism’s main projects

Answer 13

1. Interplanetary travel, develop space/cosmos
2. Humans take an active role in evolution (active evolution)
3. Kill death, resurrect the dead
4. Goal of perfection and wholeness, unity

Question 14

Explain what
 1. Active evolution
2. Totalitarian
3. Otechestvennyi
mean and how they fit in the Cosmist thought

Answer 14

1. Active evolution is the necessity for a new conscious stage of development in the world, by human direction, taking evolution in their own hands, relates to Cosmism due to them wanting to control evolution and resurrection
2. Totalitarian is a characteristic of Cosmism; needed to be well-rounded and both on earth and in space
3. Otechestvennyi was a Russian magazine published in the late 19th century which heavily focused its thoughts on Cosmism, was the Cosmist’s magazine

Question 15

Describe Fedorov’s “common task” and include an explanation of the following terms and how they relate to his philosophy: disintegration, reintegration, fusion, decentralization

Answer 15

• “common task” was to lead an self-denying existence which he had a small group of followers, led a simple life (dressed like a beggar, spent no money on entertainment, no furniture, no hot food)
• BIG goal was to eliminate death for total knowledge, makes goals easier to achieve, and opens up more time to solve other problems, science should be focused on solving death not war
  1. Disintegration- to combat death, disintegration must be avoided
  2. Reintegration- as the solution to death, opposite of disintegration
  3. Fusion- type of death: people blindly following institution, laws, regulation cause this
  4. Decentralization- Solution to fusion and how to eliminate death

Question 16

Describe the main features of Marxist utopia based on Marx/Engel’s “Principles of Communism”

Answer 16

A Marxist utopia would have no private property, family as private affair, no more nationality or religion, a freer society but less individualistic, work with one’s own talents

Question 17

How does Bogdanov’s Red Star define what it means to be human?

Answer 17

• Sees humans as flawed but still redeemable
• Netti’s speech articulates how humans are not inferior to the Martians, just different. Humans on their own are unique beings.
• Humans in Red Star are still very valuable and cannot escape being individuals
• Importance of love and overall a positive outlook on how humans are unique and valuable and cannot merely be exterminated

Question 18

Describe three major ways life on Mars differs from life on Earth in Red Star

Answer 18

1. They have “suicide rooms”, also they live longer and look “younger” longer (suicide is acceptable)
2. They are developed to work more hours with less effort (Leonid cannot keep up)
3. They can be polyamorous (Netti/Sterni)
4. More advanced technology development (space travel/facetime/microscope with pictures/atomic power)
5. Instead of revolution and conflict, the society has a “wholeness” (Russian-ness)

Question 19

What value does Netti find in difference, and how does her argument in favor of difference echo Fedorov’s ideas and challenge a communist project that legitimizes genocidal violence (like Sterni’s speech)

Answer 19

• Netti’s speech sees humans and Martians as different instead of one superior. Embraces differences as value and once humans are gone it will be tragic because they can never be replaced
• Relates to Fedorov’s ideas because his big goal was to eliminate death which discourages Sterni’s idea of exterminating humans. Also, Fedorov believed in total knowledge which Sterni’s has ignored by only seeing humans as savages. Fedorov also is anti-war and believes the direction should instead be to stop death. Sterni sees war/violence as answer while Fedorov sees it as downfall.

Question 20

Peter Christensen argues that “Protazanov’s Aelita represents (1) an attempt to assert a pro-Lenin, anti-Bogdanov stance that revolution must precede cultural change rather than stem from it, (2) discredits the character of the bourgeois engineering class (through the figure of Los), and (3) limits feminism to the public world of work rather than extending it to the home environment. Using evidence from the film, fully develop and prove two points of his thesis.

Answer 20

1. Film takes place at end of the Russian Civil War with new economic policy period (IRL) Lenin proposed it as temporary fix with NEPmen engaging in capitalism while they were transitioning. These historical events are backed up in Aelita by film’s narrative. (NEP people are on earth, but the “westerns” are the Martians; have underground balls, nicer shoes, nice food, wealth gap, workers as things) 
Basically, it is pro-Lenin because it states revolution must precede cultural change instead of stemming from it, and discredits the bourgeois class through Los
2. The film discredits bourgeois because Los is not a good character. He is individualistic which is bad, and is educated. Before the revolution was above the working class. He represents western culture, to an extent. 
3. The feminism in the movie is almost nonexistent. Los’s wife returns to him even after he tries to shoot her and her character does not progress, Aelita is child-like and ends up being bad instead of good by attempting to take over after leading the revolution. Females only succeed in public spheres but fail in home life.

Question 21

Explain fully what Mars represents in the film Aelita. Along with this, explain what the cosmic voyage to Mars represents in this film. Use concrete evidence from the film to build and illustrate your argument. Your answer should also involve an analysis of the meaning of the Martian costumes and sets.

Answer 21

Mars in Aelita represents a Western Utopia. Therefore, the cosmic voyage to Mars represents a bourgeois communist being introduced to western society and his reaction to it. Mars represents the West by being decadent, huge wealth gap, workers as things, and the architecture represents the future and the past. This can be seen in extravagant costumes and strange hats and lines designed in the dresses. The costumes are limited and constraining but represent status. The conventional standards of beauty are different as well, geometric/triangular shapes in the architecture and clothing as well, and the style is a representation of who the Martians are (individually)

Question 22

What does Aelita suggest about film’s ability to impact life (avant-garde function) include analysis of two concrete moments from film

Answer 22

1. By representing Los as negative/weak, he is represented as a “bad” communist/NEPman. This message is conveyed to the audience and makes us dislike Los, and therefore the film’s message to be a good communist and not be like Los is let through to viewers
2. The moment where Aelita sees Los and his wife kissing though the microscope and then asks the guard to kiss her shows how we construct what we do. She doesn’t even know what a kiss is and asks him to put his lips against hers like the humans do. This shows that the knowledge and habits we have been learned and constructed from somewhere. It shows that foreign concepts are actually not always as strange as they seem and things that are learned behaviors can still be questioned. Backs up the new revolution in Russia and is pro-Lenin because it opens viewer’s minds to change.

Question 23

Compare and contrast utopian elements in Cosmic Voyage vs. Red Star, how do they differ in Utopian message, and how are they similar? Include details from films

Answer 23

Only Cosmic Voyage: heavily focused on the “science” aspect in film (wanted science to be accurate according to Tsiolkovsky’s 6 essential elements; include rocket launched from horizontal ramp, cabin fills with water during take-off, parachute upon re-entry to atmosphere, pro-Stalin (rocket called Stalin and is a phallic symbol), very soviet oriented (Soviet and Science), earth as utopia, about discoveries of science
Only Red Star: Open discussion on suffering and human emotions, Mars as the utopia, voyage to learn about the future utopia and bring it to earth, more philosophical, not Stalin-oriented, specific interest in blood transfusion and medicine, more uncanny
Both: Focused on the technicality of the science, both have communist elements and themes, sway away from individualism