Sci-Fi Writer Bruce Sterling Explains the Intriguing New Concept of Design Fiction… But does he, though? ‘Explains’ is perhaps a bit of a stretch. ‘Discusses’ is probably a better word.

Another week, another reading that went straight over my head (that’s not really hard though, I’m 5’3”; everything goes over my head).  I still don’t understand  what Sterling meant by ”suspend disbelief about change.” How that phrase was followed by the statement ”It’s the best explanation we’ve come up with” is beyond me. That’s not an explanation, it’s the sort of vaguely impressing sounding statement a politician would put in a fortune cookie.
I also find it somewhat confusing that Sterling is a science fiction writer and yet he chose to discuss sci-fi films as his example. Why not discuss book, Doll? That’s what you’re good at. The diegetic elements of any film are crucial in developing and presenting plot/emotion/character etc, not just sci-fi films. Actually, not just films at all- radio plays and stage plays rely on their diegesis to engage audiences as well. Therefore, Design Fiction is not an ”intriguing” or ”new” concept.

Maybe I’ve just completely missed the point. Again. Either way, that’s all I have to say on the subject.

Catch you next time 🙂

xx. B-