Stranger Things Analysis

Shay ONeill
Science Fiction Studies

Paper One
September 27, 2016
Science fiction has many different characteristics that define the genre. These
characteristics encompass many different films, television shows, books, and video games.
However, not every work with these characteristics is actually science fiction. Science fiction,
though it has a vague definition, should at least relatively include some scientific fact to go with
the fiction in these characteristics. The Netflix original series Stranger Things can be considered
science fiction because of its mixing of scientific fact with fiction in relation to the other
dimension called the Upside Down, and a girl named Elevens telekinetic abilities.
The Upside Down is another dimension that is a darker, mirror image of our dimension.
There arent any other living beings in the other dimension aside from the monster of the series,
often referred to as the Demogorgon. The layout and buildings are all the same only covered in
dirt, slime, and other substances. It is where one of the main protagonists, Will, is taken very
early on in the series. Viewers do not have an explanation for the dimension, or its portal, until
episode five where a science teacher explains the science behind traveling to another dimension.
The teacher, Mr. Clark, explains that to get to this other dimension, youd have to create a
massive amount of energyto open up some kind of tear in time and space and then you create a
doorway, like a gate. It would disrupt gravity, magnetic fields, our environment, heck it might
even swallow us whole (Duffer, Duffer, Tatlock Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat).
Although the human race isnt currently hopping from one dimension to the next, they are
theoretically, as the episode explains, possible. In real life, other dimensions arent exactly
completely different parallel universes, theoretically speaking. Dimensions are simply the
different facets of what we perceive to be reality (Williams 2015). The fictional element
involved in the other dimension is the monster that resides in the other dimension, as well as the
creation of the portal, which is done by a young girl name Eleven.
Eleven has telekinetic abilities which can be contributed to mutation. It is not yet
explicitly clear whether or not she was born with these abilities, or if she received them after
birth. She has the ability to move things with her mind, kill people using only her mind, tap in to
technology and radio waves, and mentally step in to another dimension. She also created the
actual portal to the Upside Down dimension. While mentally exploring the Upside Down, she
accidentally created the doorway between the two dimensions, thus allowing the Demogorgon to
travel between them (Duffer, Duffer Chapter Seven: The Bathtub).
However, back to the matter at hand, telekinetic abilities are not realistic. At least not yet.
There are several claimed types of psychic powers, including precognition, pyrokinesis, and
telepathy. Among the most dramatic of these is telekinesis, the ability to move objects through
mind power. Though many Americans believe in psychic ability, scientific evidence for its
existence remains elusive (Radford 2013). As previously stated, it is relatively vague as to
whether or not Eleven was born with these abilities, but either way genetic mutation is accepted
as a characteristic of science fiction. Science fiction elements include characters that
include aliens, mutants, androids, or humanoid robots and other types of characters arising from
a future human evolution and paranormal abilities such as mind control, telepathy, and
telekinesis (Science Fiction).
In addition to that, even if she was born with her abilities, technology is used to help develop
them. In episode seven, the protagonists place Eleven in a makeshift sensory deprivation tank to
help her clear her mind and mentally enter the Upside Down. In various other episodes Elevens
brainwaves are monitored through machinery in a lab, and she also uses radio waves to pick up
people speaking from far away, or even across dimensions. In a few episodes she uses either a
radio or a walkie talkie to hear Will in the Upside Down. Her abilities include not only magic
but also science and technology.
In conclusion, Stranger Things utilizes two characteristics of science fiction, other
dimensions and mutations, to properly fit in to the genre. They use a mix factual science and
fantasy in order to create the perfect science fiction television show. Although many shows,
movies, and books are vaguely science fiction, it is quite clear to see that Stranger Things
perfectly fits the bill without a doubt.
Works Cited
Duffer, Matt, Ross Duffer, and Allison Tatlock. "Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat."
Stranger Things. Netflix. 15 July 2016. Television.
Duffer, Matt, and Ross Duffer. "Chapter Seven: The Bathtub." Stranger Things. Netflix. 15 July
2016. Television.
Radford, Benjamin. "Telekinesis: Facts About Mind Over Matter." Live Science. Purch, 22 Mar.
2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
"Science Fiction." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016
Williams, Matt. "A Universe of 10 Dimensions." Universe Today. N.p., 23 Dec. 2015. Web. 27
Sept. 2016.

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Shay ONeill

Science Fiction Studies

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