History of the Future The Future in the 1950s. This Session WWII –role of science and technology Introduction to 1950s –Cold War, Atomic Bomb & Sputnik.

History of the FutureHistory of the Future

The Future in the 1950sThe Future in the 1950s

This SessionThis Session

WWIIWWII– role of science and technologyrole of science and technology

Introduction to 1950sIntroduction to 1950s– Cold War, Atomic Bomb & Sputnik to followCold War, Atomic Bomb & Sputnik to follow– Also discussion of political climateAlso discussion of political climate

Overview of 1950s SFOverview of 1950s SF

World War IIWorld War II

National organization on huge scaleNational organization on huge scale– systems, experts, industrial productionsystems, experts, industrial production– Experts of all kinds enlisted in national effortExperts of all kinds enlisted in national effort

Key role of science and technologyKey role of science and technology– RADARRADAR– Atomic bombAtomic bomb– Jet enginesJet engines– V2 rocketsV2 rockets– Computer (not widely known at time)Computer (not widely known at time)

Government & ScienceGovernment & Science

Pre-1945 fairly limitedPre-1945 fairly limited– Agriculture, geology, etc.Agriculture, geology, etc.– Private foundations, industry importantPrivate foundations, industry important

Vannevar BushVannevar Bush– Mobilized American science, 1941 onwardMobilized American science, 1941 onward– Science – The Endless FrontierScience – The Endless Frontier, 1945, 1945– Call for Federal support answer 1950, NSFCall for Federal support answer 1950, NSF– ““Pipeline” – Basic -> Applied -> TechnologyPipeline” – Basic -> Applied -> Technology

Physics Very PrestigiousPhysics Very Prestigious

Einstein as celebrityEinstein as celebrityEmergence of Big ScienceEmergence of Big Science– reactorsreactors– particle acceleratorsparticle accelerators– massive research teams, millions of dollarsmassive research teams, millions of dollars

Most science funding is militaryMost science funding is militarySocial sciences want to be more like Social sciences want to be more like physicsphysics– Economics, sociology, psychology etc.Economics, sociology, psychology etc.

AutomationAutomation

New term in 1950sNew term in 1950s– Popularized by young Popularized by young

consultantconsultant– Some basis in continuous flow Some basis in continuous flow

(oil, etc.)(oil, etc.)

Fully automatic factories Fully automatic factories expected soonexpected soon– CyberneticsCybernetics

Social issues much discussedSocial issues much discussed– Widespread unemployment?Widespread unemployment?– End of work?End of work?

Age of AffluenceAge of Affluence

Prosperity for first time in Prosperity for first time in 20 years20 years– Enormous pent-up demand Enormous pent-up demand

for consumer goodsfor consumer goods– Rapid growth in corporate Rapid growth in corporate

profits, outputprofits, output

TelevisionTelevision– First networks grow up in First networks grow up in

1950s1950s– Largely displaces cinemaLargely displaces cinema

Social ConservatismSocial Conservatism

Women areWomen are– Working outside the home lessWorking outside the home less– Having more children, youngerHaving more children, younger

Also tied to cold war, defense of AmericaAlso tied to cold war, defense of America– Unions become respectableUnions become respectable

Focus on pay and conditionsFocus on pay and conditions

– Continuing faith in large corporationsContinuing faith in large corporations– Virtues of American way of lifeVirtues of American way of life

SuburbanizationSuburbanization

Trend frozen since 1920sTrend frozen since 1920s

Large scale construction across USLarge scale construction across US– Modern, spaciousModern, spacious– Safe, affordableSafe, affordable

Suits large scale raising of baby boomersSuits large scale raising of baby boomers– Whites flee citiesWhites flee cities– Lifestyle celebrated on sitcomsLifestyle celebrated on sitcoms

UFOUFO

Flying Saucer, coined Flying Saucer, coined 19471947– UFO craze throughout UFO craze throughout

1950s1950s– Popular willingness to Popular willingness to

believe in aliensbelieve in aliens

Science Fiction in 1950sScience Fiction in 1950s

Quality of writing Quality of writing picks uppicks up

New magazinesNew magazines– GalaxyGalaxy– Fantasy & Science Fantasy & Science

FictionFiction

Spread of “soft” SFSpread of “soft” SF– SociologySociology– Psychology, etc.Psychology, etc.

PSIPSI

Key theme of 1950s SFKey theme of 1950s SF– Earlier use (1890s onward)Earlier use (1890s onward)– Transcendental overtonesTranscendental overtones– Evolution of super man (Stapledon)Evolution of super man (Stapledon)

Major theme in Bester novelMajor theme in Bester novel

Often linked to cold-war paranoiaOften linked to cold-war paranoia– MutantsMutants– No way of knowing who has itNo way of knowing who has it

Key Themes of 50s SFKey Themes of 50s SF

Telepathy and PSI powerTelepathy and PSI power

Atomic warAtomic war– Mutants, radiationMutants, radiation

Cold war paranoiaCold war paranoia– Aliens among usAliens among us

One important shiftOne important shift– Heroes generally less powerful, more Heroes generally less powerful, more

confused and at mercy of outside forcesconfused and at mercy of outside forces

SF In Book FormSF In Book Form

First “Genre SF” appears in First “Genre SF” appears in book formbook form

Gnome Press, founded 1948Gnome Press, founded 1948– First book publication for First book publication for

Asimov, Heinlein, Arthur C. Asimov, Heinlein, Arthur C. ClarkeClarke

Initial previous published in Initial previous published in magazinesmagazines

AsimovAsimov

Foundation TrilogyFoundation Trilogy– Published in Astounding, 1942-1950Published in Astounding, 1942-1950– Published in book form 1951-1953Published in book form 1951-1953

Epic of future historyEpic of future history– direct mapping of Roman Empiredirect mapping of Roman Empire– very concept drivenvery concept driven– skeptical of religion, politicsskeptical of religion, politics– never really finishednever really finished

Asimov – Robot StoriesAsimov – Robot Stories

The Three Laws of RoboticsThe Three Laws of Robotics– Published as I Robot, 1950Published as I Robot, 1950– Stories appeared from 1941 Stories appeared from 1941

onwardonward– Two detective novels, 1954 & Two detective novels, 1954 &

19571957

Laws are moral, rather than Laws are moral, rather than scientificscientific– Rehabilitates idea of robotRehabilitates idea of robot

Robert A. HeinleinRobert A. Heinlein

Future History seriesFuture History series– Stories of 1940sStories of 1940s– Collected 1951 onwardCollected 1951 onward

Many “juvenile” novels for Many “juvenile” novels for teenagersteenagers– published 1947 – 1958published 1947 – 1958– Have Spacesuit, Will Travel – Have Spacesuit, Will Travel –

19581958

Starship Troopers, 1959Starship Troopers, 1959– rejected as children's book!rejected as children's book!