Science fiction is a genre that combines supernatural
scientific speculations with a sense of realism that the audience can relate
to. The most redeeming quality of this type of literature is its ability to
provoke thought. Yes; simply to make you think. Think about bounteous
possibilities without any inhibitions, think about the consequences of these
scientific application, and think about how the world could, with the help of
science, be a much better place. This is why I think Science fiction should be
taught in schools; it encourages this type of thought process in students.
Another quality of Science fiction texts/films is that all
the supernatural and unrealistic scientific fantasy is always underpinned by
some sort of logic and reasoning. This incorporates the idea that these
scientific events could perhaps be a reality if practically considered. The
portrayal of the modern industrial society in a sci-fi artwork hundreds of
years ago would've seemed far-fetched and even unrealistic to many, but someone
must have thought...why not? Why can't we have a world in which the tedious and
monotonous jobs of labour are carried out by machines? And that very question
is the reason why science fiction should be incorporated into our curriculum. The
core academic science subjects fills our heads with practical knowledge, but
where do we expect the ideas, the drive, the vision to come from? Sci-fi is the
answer.
As a final notion, I would like to say that it is a mark of
an intelligent mind to be able to toy with ideas without believing them.
Science fiction encourages us to do that. Todays youth will be the leaders of tomorrow and who
wouldn't want motivated, open-minded and ambitious leaders?
