Just got to thinking about this after those threads on The Expanse and Military Sci-Fi (which admittedly is probably the sub-genre least affected by this trend).
I know the case can be made for the existence of some conservative authors or sometimes conservative themes, of course they exist, but are they “swimming upstream” so-to-speak? Going against the flow of “the mainstream” of Sci-Fi?
I’m not looking for a list of conservative authors by the way, I want to hear if the people here think that Sci-Fi as a genre may or may not have an inherent bias towards the new, the previously unseen, and thus “progressive” ideas and ideologies. Not even necessarily to castigate Sci-Fi, merely to attempt to understand what’s happening.
The “Sad Puppies” folks probably have some insights on this subject but I don’t know much about them beyond their existence and their claim that the Sci-Fi book awards system has been subverted by leftist/progressive ideologues:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sad_Puppies
Sad Puppies activists accused the Hugo Awards "of giving awards on the basis of political correctness and favoring authors and artists who aren't straight, white and male".
I do see the ideas of sci-if and “progressivism” as connected, but I’m not sure if that’s an inherent aspect of the genre, or if that is perhaps a cultural relic. I lean towards the idea that it is likely largely cultural (i.e. well respected sci-fi authors of old put “culturally progressive” themes in their books about Scientific “progress”, and that has carried on to this day) but I’m interested in where everyone else falls on the subject.
Fiction is inherently utopian. The idea of temporarily escaping the real would you don't like into an imaginary place that doesn't have some of the negative aspects you don't want to deal with is fundamentally a childish fantasy.
The converse is facing the real world, accepting it for what it is faults and all, and dealing with the problems you face even if you would rather not.
Legends aren't the same as fiction because they come from a history and tradition that is linked to a specific ethnos.
Also art isn't necessarily subversive, that is just the last 150 years to so. Previously art was used to glorify God or immortalize a great man or great moment in history.
Utopian is one side, but some of the best sci fi is dystopian, understanding that "progress" has downsides. Think of some of the most popular sci fi works of all time, and they'll fall under the dystopian column.
Fahrenheit 451
Bladerunner
Terminator
Brave New World
Black Mirror
Kind of a tangent:
I feel like we create art in an attempt to share what we feel, with other people
If we feel like existence is glorious and blessed, we will attempt to fashion that feeling into a piece of art to express it, and hopefully spread it
If we feel like existence is a weary drudge from cradle to grave in a meaningless world of random chance and indifference (“God is dead, and we have killed him.”), then unfortunately that too ends up being expressed, and shared, and eventually violently enforced like we see today.
We’re all here because on one subject or another we refused to sink down into the mire of their (D)illusions. How do we turn that into a legend? It’s kind of happening unconsciously, but I don’t know if that’s enough, know what I mean?