The future has already passed

Vol.18,No.2(2015)

Miroslav Kotásek

Stable URL (handle):
http://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/135000

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Abstract
The article describes the unique position science fiction has acquired in relationship with temporality, especially futurity. It is suggested that this position stems partly from a strategic position "popular literature" in general occupies in western culture. Niklas Luhmann and his theory of autopoietic social systems serve as a starting point that allows the author to view temporality as a human construct. This is further demonstrated by describing the impact the formulation of second thermodynamic law had on popular imagination of the 19th century and how it led to the formulation of the basis of theory of information in the first half of the 20th century. In order to illustrate the capacity of science fiction vocabulary to deal with the present, seemingly a-historic situation of the world, the "technological fate of humanity", and "information society", DeLillo's non-fiction article "In the Ruins of the Future", devoted to the events of 9/11, has been chosen.

Keywords:
2nd law of thermodynamics; 9/11; DeLillo; futurity; posthumanity; science fiction

Pages:
11–28
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