- Sep 7, 2021
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Abstract of 4th-icmhs
Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Modern Approach in Humanities and Social Sciences
Year: 2021
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.33422/4th.icmhs.2021.09.30
Negating Literature as a Reflection of Society: Constructing an Alternative Definition with Isaac Asimov’s Short Stories
Satya Girish
ABSTRACT:
Literature is defined as a reflection of society that is based on historical facts and the present. Jean-Paul Sartre also defined literature as an entity that has to liberate itself from external factors, bring out the truth about the oppressed, alienate the unknown, engender a change in society, and all this should be discussed well within the boundaries of the world we all know. Such rigid definitions of literature not only marginalised the extent of literature but also dismissed genres of literature such as science fiction. Departing from such rigid principles, science fiction speculated about the future. This paper discusses how science fiction, though neglected by mainstream literature, went on to welcome a great change that transformed human life. For the purpose of this study, Isaac Asimov’s writings will be studied with a particular focus on ‘Runaround’ and his views on science fiction as a genre and its position in literature.
keywords: Isaac Asimov, Literature, Robotics, Science-fiction.