The Expectations of the Future: Fact or Fiction?

It suddenly reached critical mass. Fear is powerful, and fear amongst many can cause complete chaos. There are two types of fears in our physiological world: the fear of what is known in the world, which is either a concept supported by fact or a stimulus in an environment that causes discomfort to an individual, and then there is the fear of the unknown. Well the question in science an abundance of the time is, “Where is the line that distinguishes Fact from Fiction?” I think that line is a thin line treaded carefully by individuals in today’s society.

An example of fiction, such as “All’s Fair at the Fair” is a perfect illustration of the positive outlook of what was in store for the future. People were excited for the advancement, for the heightened efficiency, and the possibility of completely moving past the hard times of the Great Depression. In Max Fleischer’s video, “All’s Fair at the Fair,” the enthusiasm of the future is obvious. In the short film, a young couple makes a trip to the city to journey through the innovations of the “World of Tomorrow.” They entered the city in their what was considered normal attire and minimal cosmetics, on a horse drawn carriage, then experienced advancement of a futuristic lifestyle in the making. The couple was pampered head to toe by a robotic staff and they rekindled their romance on the dance floor after paying for lessons from a machine-oriented instructor. After such an evening, the couple then proceeded to the exit where they then chose an automobile of their choice that came from a push button machine that allowed the couple to select which style of automobile they would like. The selection was made, and a small package unfolded into a new sports car and on their way they went, with a new outlook of the future. This was a common outlook of the time period and people could hardly wait to experience these innovations firsthand.

Now the separation from fiction lies in the fear of the unknown. A positive example of fact would be the exhibit of Futurama at the World’s Fair in New York, accompanied by a detailed pamphlet titled “Democracity.” These were exciting changes to people. Where was the negative? Well, it was the fear of the unknown. The radio broadcast conducted by Orson Welles on October 30, 1938 was intended as a Halloween hoax, but some took the story seriously. The radio broadcast was a story inspired by War of the Worlds, which details a Martian attack focused specifically on the human race. People were terrified, and New England went into absolute chaos. Why did people believe this outrageous story? Well, to the people it was believed as fact rather than fiction. The sound effects of horrifying screams, gunfire, and the background noise made people believe that this story was indeed true.

So again, where is the line between fact and fiction? Well, it sometimes does not even matter. If an individual fears something enough, what may be defined as fiction may appear in their minds as fact.