The Apocalyptic Chronotope in "Farewell to the Master" and The Day the Earth Stood Still
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2019
Yazarlar: Züleyha ÇETİNER ÖKTEM
Mediterranean Journal of Humanities, Hakemli Üniversite Dergisi, Uluslararası, Index Copernicus, 2019, cilt 9, ss 113-126
Özet
Mythic and religious narratives that envision the end of the world position the apocalypse in a futuristic time where certain events would sequentially occur finally building up to the inevitable end.Speculative fiction that depicts near-apocalypses do not however, prefer unconceivable futures but favour the current time of the narrative, depicting them as events happening now.Operating within the apocalyptic chronotope, science fiction bonds present day concerns with possible catastrophes.One such narrative is Harry Bates' short story "Farewell to the Master" (1940) which also generated two film adaptations entitled The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, 2008).While Bates' short story relates how humanity is prone to act imprudently during a relatively peaceful period, the 1951 film turns to that of the Cold War and its repercussions, and the 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still centres around the theme of nature.As environmental concerns dominate our era the 2008 film reflects humanity's evergrowing consumption and destruction of its natural surroundings.As the source text and its adaptations provide possible apocalyptic visions or scenarios adjusted to their respective audiences, this essay analyses these narratives through the apocalyptic chronotope, exploring and building on Bakhtin's theory.In doing so, this essay attempts to discern the ways in which adapted near apocalyptic scenarios shift and change to accommodate contemporary concerns within a temporal and spatial framework.