Was "The X-Files" a science fiction TV series?

[pnerd]

Can the series be called "science fiction"? If not, then why is it referred to as science fiction in the Wikipedia page of The X-Files? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files

[Trent Wray]

The X-Files was a chapter from the modern day collective subconscious that composes the CT'ers inner bible, projected in visual format to educate the masses that the truth is out there. Remove the word "fiction" from the OP header and all will be well ...

[not daSkeptic]

It is if one goes by the following definition of science fiction:

Take the real world, tweak a few variables, and watch what happens.

[PixyMisa]

Yes.

[wollery]

How could it not be called science fiction? :confused:

[Brainache]

How could it not be called science fiction? :confused:

Maybe it's fantasy. Modern Urban Fantasy.

[GrandMasterFox]

A show about vampires, werewolves, aliens, witchcraft and other monsters is N-O-T science fiction? :confused:

Please don't tell me you think it's a documentary...

[Brainache]

A show about vampires, werewolves, aliens, witchcraft and other monsters is N-O-T science fiction? :confused:

Please don't tell me you think it's a documentary...

I tend to reserve the term science fiction for stories based on real science. The Wolfman, Vampires, Witchcraft and other monsters aren't science, they're fantasy.

Spaceships, Aliens, Time Travel (oops, well OK at least let me keep Time Dilation) Robots and other sciencey stuff is Science Fiction to me. Although judging from all the Sword and Sorcery books on the Sci Fi shelf at my local bookshop, I may be in the minority.

[novaphile]

Although judging from all the Sword and Sorcery books on the Sci Fi shelf at my local bookshop, I may be in the minority.

Well I'll happily join you in the minority, I find it very annoying that a bookshop will have a large section market "science fiction" which is filled entirely with dragon and unicorn fluff.

I thought that the X-Files was a bunch of fluffy fantasy, when science occasionally rated a mention, they did a very poor job of it.

[pnerd]

I tend to reserve the term science fiction for stories based on real science. The Wolfman, Vampires, Witchcraft and other monsters aren't science, they're fantasy.

Spaceships, Aliens, Time Travel (oops, well OK at least let me keep Time Dilation) Robots and other sciencey stuff is Science Fiction to me.
My point exactly.


I thought that the X-Files was a bunch of fluffy fantasy, when science occasionally rated a mention, they did a very poor job of it.
I agree.

And I'll join you two in the minority as well.
.

[MortFurd]

A minority of four. I go looking for SF and get dragons and fuzzy thinking.

Then again, I loved the Wizard's Bane stories from Rick Cook. I still haven't decided where to put them - SF or fantasy. Sort of both. Dragons, but with a (more or less) logical structure. Sort of like what is being discussed in this thread. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=170347) What happens if psychic stuff were real. Wizard's Bane is pretty much what happens if magic is real and you approach it with a scientific attitude.

[Darat]

Can the series be called "science fiction"? If not, then why is it referred to as science fiction in the Wikipedia page of The X-Files? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files

I would call it "science fantasy" rather than "science fiction".

[PixyMisa]

Or "bad science fiction". Good show though, at least the early seasons.

[Darat]

Nah I use "bad science fiction" for shows such as those "CSI: We've had to colourise each 'different' series so you can tell them apart" shows.

Science fantasy shows can be good, Dr Who is an example.

[Belz...]

Can the series be called "science fiction"? If not, then why is it referred to as science fiction in the Wikipedia page of The X-Files? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files

Well, it's "fiction", that's for sure.

[Graham2001]

Yes, read the second of my signatures, the person who wrote that was smacked down by the editors of a conspiracy magazine.

[commandlinegamer]

I want to believe,
'Could have told the story in
Two years 'stead of nine.

[PixyMisa]

Nah I use "bad science fiction" for shows such as those "CSI: We've had to colourise each 'different' series so you can tell them apart" shows.

Science fantasy shows can be good, Dr Who is an example.
Doctor Who transcends mere genres!

[Darat]

:)

[P.J. Denyer]

Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror it varied episode to episode, but there are no defined lines it's shades of grey.

[Trent Wray]

Shows like X-Files are more like soap operas .... they have these long running mythos and "drama".

Soap Science perhaps?

[Gr8wight]

This dips into an argument that has been going on for a long, long time: what is the definition of Science Fiction? Many writers detest the term "Sci Fi," preferring to shorten it to "SF," which they refer to as speculative fiction. Another problem is that the term 'fantasy' has been co-opted by the swords and sorcerers genre, when really it is a blanket term describing everything from Don Quixote to Alice in Wonderland to Star Wars to The Bible.

[Marduk]

A show about vampires, werewolves, aliens, witchcraft and other monsters is N-O-T science fiction? :confused:

Please don't tell me you think it's a documentary...

Due to the fact that Scully was investigating everything scientifically I disagree. Its not fantasy if the FBI is taking an interest
:p

[paiute]

I tend to reserve the term science fiction for stories based on real science. The Wolfman, Vampires, Witchcraft and other monsters aren't science, they're fantasy.

Spaceships, Aliens, Time Travel (oops, well OK at least let me keep Time Dilation) Robots and other sciencey stuff is Science Fiction to me. Although judging from all the Sword and Sorcery books on the Sci Fi shelf at my local bookshop, I may be in the minority.

If the X-Files wasn't science fiction, then nothing is. Of course, when you have such spectacularly crappy science fiction hose which is the "SyFy" [sic] channel, then the standard of good science fiction is going to be flawed.

If you were to allow me to classify fiction which does not rigidly adhere to good science, then there has never been any science fiction.

[Ladewig]

I'll let others debate the finer points raised in the opening posts. But I will say that the episode titled ""Jose Chung's From Outer Space," is the most entertaining 60 minutes of science fiction ever written.

[GrandMasterFox]

I tend to reserve the term science fiction for stories based on real science. The Wolfman, Vampires, Witchcraft and other monsters aren't science, they're fantasy.

Spaceships, Aliens, Time Travel (oops, well OK at least let me keep Time Dilation) Robots and other sciencey stuff is Science Fiction to me. Although judging from all the Sword and Sorcery books on the Sci Fi shelf at my local bookshop, I may be in the minority.
Okay... At least you're clear on that now :)

Well, in general, the terms of "science fiction", "fantasy", "super heroes" and all the likes are so mixed in this day of an age.

The truth is, the whole definition of geners have more to do with commercial value than with actual content. The most notable example of that is the "reality" shows. Even academic circles are dropping the whole issues of generes entirely.

[Checkmite]

Yes, the X-Files is pretty much entirely science fiction. Although it contains some fantasy elements, it lends them a scientific or scientific-sounding explanation more often than presenting them in a "just so" context, the latter being more typical of fantasy. Although many episodes went in different directions, the show's over-arching plot involved an invasion of Earth by aliens using things like viruses; and as paiute said, if that isn't science fiction then there's no such thing as science fiction.

[Spektator]

It's scientifiction (thank you, Hugo) or sci-fi (thank you, Forry). Ray Bradbury once said that he thought he wrote "science fantasy," not "science fiction." I suppose it's in the photoreceptors of the beholder.

Either way, I never liked that show.

[Darat]

I wasn't an avid watcher of the show so I may be mistaken but didn't they incorporate magic and the supernatural as part of "the truth is out there"?

That's why I would say it was science fantasy rather than science fiction.

[Darat]

It's scientifiction (thank you, Hugo) or sci-fi (thank you, Forry). Ray Bradbury once said that he thought he wrote "science fantasy," not "science fiction." I suppose it's in the photoreceptors of the beholder.

Either way, I never liked that show.

I'm with Bradbury on this one.

[Denver]

From what I recall, a common story arc through the entire series was about ETs (in one form or another). Even some of the monsters that seemed more horror than scifi were explained as having a basis in that arc.

But if we go back a ways in history, we can can find a time when scifi, horror, fantasy, etc, were all lumped together under such names as weird fiction. Maybe even romanticism. Even today, they often do not break out perfectly under one category or another. And bookstores need to find a slot to present it for sale...

[Accidental Martyr]

I'll let others debate the finer points raised in the opening posts. But I will say that the episode titled ""Jose Chung's From Outer Space," is the most entertaining 60 minutes of science fiction ever written.

That was always one of my favorite X-Files episodes.

[Marduk]

That was always one of my favorite X-Files episodes.

I like it even more since I've realised that Rramjet is in it (Blaine Faulkner)
:p

[SnidelyW]

From what I recall, a common story arc through the entire series was about ETs (in one form or another). Even some of the monsters that seemed more horror than scifi were explained as having a basis in that arc.

But if we go back a ways in history, we can can find a time when scifi, horror, fantasy, etc, were all lumped together under such names as weird fiction. Maybe even romanticism. Even today, they often do not break out perfectly under one category or another. And bookstores need to find a slot to present it for sale...

My perception of the theme of 'X-Files' was that of an ET investigation, and the internal struggle within the FBI regarding information fit for the public to know.
I never placed in in the Sci-fi slot myself- preferring to see it as a social commentary on the entire issue of what governments investigate and how they deal with information gleaned. The show could have used any theme for the same purpose, but Et's are just exotic enough to justify the intrigue.
The problem I had with the show was that internal struggle really never went anywhere- it was as if the writers thought they needed that conflict to drive the scripts.
The show held my interest for a couple of seasons (partly because Scully was smokin' hot!) but one ET investigation became much like another, and it grew quite stale.

[Darat]

Part of the reason I didn't stick with it is that it become absolutely infuriating that despite week after week of discovering actual evidence of "out of this world" stuff the female one still apparently didn't "believe".

[Trent Wray]

That was always one of my favorite X-Files episodes. Jose Chung was greatness indeed :)

BUT .... my favorite all time X-File motw was Pusher. I know it didn't have anything to do with aliens and the like, but I'll never forget "cerullian blue is a gentle breeze ... ":)

And yes, G. Anderson was hot, but by the end of the series I got tired of seeing her crying all the time.

[MG1962]

I liked the show while it maintained its "monster of the week" format. Some of the critters were really interesting, and some out right scary. But when the big story arc became more and more prominent. I just gave up. With the one notable exception of the episode that explained the origins of 'cancer man'

[BaaBaa]

I'll let others debate the finer points raised in the opening posts. But I will say that the episode titled ""Jose Chung's From Outer Space," is the most entertaining 60 minutes of science fiction ever written.
I'll back that: I was not wise in the tao of woo at the time but it was awesome trying to pick out the little bits of real life (ahem) that I had come across that they sprinkled through it.

Also, I think that line about all those years of playing DnD as instruction in courage is still applicable....

[fuelair]

A minority of four. I go looking for SF and get dragons and fuzzy thinking.

Then again, I loved the Wizard's Bane stories from Rick Cook. I still haven't decided where to put them - SF or fantasy. Sort of both. Dragons, but with a (more or less) logical structure. Sort of like what is being discussed in this thread. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=170347) What happens if psychic stuff were real. Wizard's Bane is pretty much what happens if magic is real and you approach it with a scientific attitude.

Actually (long time fan - fantasy since old enough to be aware of it and SF by '52 or'3 - tv and comic books and little golden books to start) Science fantasy is closest to X Files as well as a rather great amount of non-book media material called Science Fiction. Some S Fi fans consider only hard SF to be SF - I am a bit more generous. I do not require the author to be able to recite/list his/her sources for ideas used in the science aspect BUT I do expect SF to have elements of science that apply to the story at hand and form an integral part of the story rather than stage dressing for it. By that standard, most media SF is Science Fantasy - and not that many books escape that label either.

Should note though, that I enjoy both SFi and SFa as well as straight Fa and Horror as well as several other fields of writing/media. Paddington Bear , for example. Would be nice to see Paddington gumming up the Puzzle Block in Hellraiser with marmalade! :)

[fuelair]

Nah I use "bad science fiction" for shows such as those "CSI: We've had to colourise each 'different' series so you can tell them apart" shows.



I hate that! And I do not watch reddish/orange colored shows. Left the one a while back with T. Carrere - whom I would otherwise happily watch -because of the red-orange tinting.

[fuelair]

This dips into an argument that has been going on for a long, long time: what is the definition of Science Fiction? Many writers detest the term "Sci Fi," preferring to shorten it to "SF," which they refer to as speculative fiction. Another problem is that the term 'fantasy' has been co-opted by the swords and sorcerers genre, when really it is a blanket term describing everything from Don Quixote to Alice in Wonderland to Star Wars to The Bible.

We love the guy who created the "Sci-Fi" term (Forrest (Forry) J. Ackermann), but hate the term - he copped it from Hi-Fi. Forry liked word stuff like that, but....it played into the hands of those who wanted to find SF just silliness for kids.

[Jeff Corey]

I loved Gernsbacher's "scientifiction", but use SF, as the Good Doctor did.

[fuelair]

I loved Gernsbacher's "scientifiction", but use SF, as the Good Doctor did.

Just Hugo Gernsback to most, but...

Yes, and as a matter of fact, it's not unlike what Forry did, but it's a neat portmanteau word thus I like it also!!:):):)

Being a Lewis Carrol fan also.:D

[Cuddles]

I would call it "science fantasy" rather than "science fiction".

I just don't see the point in trying to split things down into ever smaller sub-genres, or trying to force any particular thing to always fit into just one of them in the first place. It's like with music where people will argue endlessly whether a band that only two people have ever heard of is actually death-grind-rap-core or death-hippity-rap-metal-core. It's completely pointless and even if a label is eventually agreed on, it doesn't actually add any understanding, or anything useful at all.

Why should The X-files not be called science fiction? It's fiction, it involves science, and every single person on the planet (OK, maybe not quite all of them) will understand what you mean when you call it that. Sure, it involves elements from other genres from time to time as well. So what? Not everything is black and white, and the only way to have everything fit perfectly into neat categories is to make a new category for every single thing. Which seems to be exactly what many music fans seem to want.

But if you do that, the idea of genres becomes completely meaningless. The whole point is to group things with similar themes together. If you then split them up again because they're not actually identical to each other, why bother with the groups in the first place? Sure, you can invent a new "Science-fantasy-horror-fiction-chiller-alien-ism" genre especially for the X-files, but if you're going to do that you may as well just call it "The X-files" and be done with it.

[commandlinegamer]

What about the term SF&F (Science Fiction and Fantasy)? Does no-one use that anymore? 'Cause it pretty much covers everything.

[TheSkepticCanuck]

How about the term "Speculative Fiction"?

[Ocelot]

why is it referred to as science fiction in the Wikipedia page of The X-Files? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files

Because you haven't yet updated the entry with a more appropriate description. If you ask yourself why that is then maybe that answer will apply to everybody else who hasn't changed it either.

[Bikewer]

When the late Dr. Asimov was still writing monthly editorials for his magazine, he maintained that "A good story was a good story", and that he wasn't overly concerned if it neatly fit into some genre category.
Sometimes the readers would throw fits, but I think he was right on.

I recall being in a bookstore once that had a huge inventory of sci-fi and as a result always had various fans in browsing.
I mentioned during one conversation that I liked Harlan Ellison and one fellow sneered, "I don't read SOFT science fiction."
Well, fine, Skippy.... Personally, I'd consider myself deprived if I'd never have read Ray Bradbury and more than a few others.....

[Checkmite]

Also, I think that line about all those years of playing DnD as instruction in courage is still applicable....

That guy was hilarious - the one who read all the UFO books, not because he had to, but because he wanted to.

[fuelair]

What about the term SF&F (Science Fiction and Fantasy)? Does no-one use that anymore? 'Cause it pretty much covers everything.Or, more precisely, F&SF - by coincidence the best magazione in the field!!!:D