Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction
This article introduces the concept of the biological sublime and argues that it is central to Stanislaw Lem’s science-fictional poetics. The biological sublime is an aesthetic reaction to the monstrous body conceptualized in terms derived from the aesthetic theories of Burke, Kant, Lyotard, and Bar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Polish |
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Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Creatio Fantastica |
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| Online Access: | https://creatiofantastica.com/stanislaw-lem-i-biologiczna-wznioslosc-biologia-technologia-fantastyka-naukowa/ |
| _version_ | 1818160150996844544 |
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| author | Elana Gomel |
| author_facet | Elana Gomel |
| author_sort | Elana Gomel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article introduces the concept of the biological sublime and argues that it is central to Stanislaw Lem’s science-fictional poetics. The biological sublime is an aesthetic reaction to the monstrous body conceptualized in terms derived from the aesthetic theories of Burke, Kant, Lyotard, and Barthes. This reaction fuses attraction and repulsion, awe and horror. It transcends the moral calculus of good and evil but has profound ethical implications as it grapples with the concept of the “totally Other” beyond human understanding. The article discusses the visual poetics of Lem’s major novels Solaris, Eden, and Fiasco, alongside lesser-known works such as the story Darkness and Mildew and the Twenty-second Voyage of Ijon Tichy. It suggests that Lem’s deployment of the biological sublime offers important clues to understanding our ambivalent relationship with biotechnology and our perennial fascination with monster movies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:57:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fa3bc736e3f4e779a3c70d0c6e77859 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2300-2514 2300-2514 |
| language | Polish |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:57:19Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Ośrodek Badawczy Facta Ficta |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Creatio Fantastica |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fa3bc736e3f4e779a3c70d0c6e778592022-12-22T00:59:23ZpolOśrodek Badawczy Facta FictaCreatio Fantastica2300-25142300-25142018-12-01592576810.5281/zenodo.3311691Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science FictionElana Gomel0Tel Aviv UniversityThis article introduces the concept of the biological sublime and argues that it is central to Stanislaw Lem’s science-fictional poetics. The biological sublime is an aesthetic reaction to the monstrous body conceptualized in terms derived from the aesthetic theories of Burke, Kant, Lyotard, and Barthes. This reaction fuses attraction and repulsion, awe and horror. It transcends the moral calculus of good and evil but has profound ethical implications as it grapples with the concept of the “totally Other” beyond human understanding. The article discusses the visual poetics of Lem’s major novels Solaris, Eden, and Fiasco, alongside lesser-known works such as the story Darkness and Mildew and the Twenty-second Voyage of Ijon Tichy. It suggests that Lem’s deployment of the biological sublime offers important clues to understanding our ambivalent relationship with biotechnology and our perennial fascination with monster movies.https://creatiofantastica.com/stanislaw-lem-i-biologiczna-wznioslosc-biologia-technologia-fantastyka-naukowa/stanislaw lemscience fictionsolarisedenfiascodarkness and mildewijon tichythe sublimethe biological sublime |
| spellingShingle | Elana Gomel Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction Creatio Fantastica stanislaw lem science fiction solaris eden fiasco darkness and mildew ijon tichy the sublime the biological sublime |
| title | Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction |
| title_full | Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction |
| title_fullStr | Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction |
| title_short | Stanislaw Lem and the Biological Sublime. Biology, Technology, Science Fiction |
| title_sort | stanislaw lem and the biological sublime biology technology science fiction |
| topic | stanislaw lem science fiction solaris eden fiasco darkness and mildew ijon tichy the sublime the biological sublime |
| url | https://creatiofantastica.com/stanislaw-lem-i-biologiczna-wznioslosc-biologia-technologia-fantastyka-naukowa/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elanagomel stanislawlemandthebiologicalsublimebiologytechnologysciencefiction |