Are Current Sci-Fi Creators Stuck in Arrested Development?

While reading this article from Entertainment Weekly (an article that suggests sci-fi movies and television of late are consistently repeating the ideas of past sci-fi masters), I really didn’t think about whether or not this was true. It’s fairly obvious that in these mediums it’s true enough. Instead, I wondered about possible reasons behind the trend.

Part of the apprenticeship of any artist is the rigorous practice of imitation. Artists do master copies. Writers to pastiches or even copy out passages, word for word. The point of doing all this seemingly tedious business is for the newbie to master certain techniques and then to eventually decide which of those techniques he or she will ultimately include in their own creative arsenal. I honestly attribute some of the revisits or re-imaginations under the Entertainment Weekly discussion to younger producers trying to figure out their form rather than them being too lazy or fearful to think-up new ideas. And I’m okay with that because it feels as if these producers are gaining momentum, like they’re preparing to do bigger and more complex things.

From the financial point of view, bringing back a story– say Battlestar Galactica or I Am Legend–that has done well in the past is much more of a prudent investment for backers than a newly cooked-up and out-there sci-fi offering. Thinking, X did decently then, so surely an X repeat will do well-enough now. Sure, it’s a piss poor catalyst for ‘new’ sci-fi projects, but it does make sense.

So if you’re peeved with updates of older fare, know that the popularity of sci-fi movies and shows in 2007 should help encourage backers to support the current crop of producers in fresher, riskier ventures.

(Thanks for the link, Xine.)