9: The Future in the 1970s
This Session America in the 1970s: Big picture - Political and economic turmoil
- Loss of national confidence
- Vietnam
- Watergate
- Oilshock
- Contiuning social change
Vietnam (continues) Nixon elected in 1968 with peace promise - Reduces US troops on ground, starts talks
- Expands war in other areas (Cambodia, etc)
Domestic opposition grows - My Lai massacre reported in 1970
- National Guard kills 6 at Kent State, 1970
- Congress pushes for end
Final agreement in Jan 1973 - US takes no action in 1975 as South falls
Undermines America’s faith in its power, morality - Destroys political consensus on foreign policy
Détente Begins under Nixon - Visits China in 1972 – exploit divisions with USSR
- New treaties with Soviets
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)
- Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)
Reversed in 1979 - After Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- Renewed arms race follows
Watergate Burglary of Democratic office by Nixon operatives - Covert action against political enemies from 1970
- Break-in occurs in 1972, foiled
Story develops slowly - Pressure grows, investigations deepen
- Investigations, tapes, firings
- Nixon resigns facing impeachment in Aug 74
Undermines faith in politicians, presidency
Oil Shock – Energy Crisis - OPEC bars US exports; hikes oil prices
- Price rises from $3 to $18
Tips economy into recession - “Stagflation” – new phenomenon
- Happens again in 1979, Iranian Revolution
Idea of energy policy gains popularity - Small cars, alternative energy boom
- “Telecommuting” is one response
America at the mercy of foreigners - Defeat in Vietnam
- Oil shock
- Iranian Hostage crisis following 1979 revolution
- American industries crumble to imports
- Steel
- Consumer electronics – TV
- Motorcycles, cars
Social Change “60s” things become mainstream in 70s - Drugs
- More sexual partners, cohabitation
- Health food (if not communes)
More divorce; later marriage Far more married women working
Environmentalism Environmental Protection Agency (1970) - Set up by Nixon!
- Consolidates pollution control programs
- Strengthened under Carter – risk assessment duties
Technology Policy - Office of Technology Assessment – 1972
- Non-partisan reports on technological issues
- Carter administration favors energy research
- Interest in renewable sources, conservation
Feminism Growing movement in 1970s - Some radicalism – lesbianism as political statement
- Possibility of all-female society
How inherent are gender differences? - Would women run a better world?
Political push - Equal Rights Amendment passes congress in 1972
- Non-discrimination in law and work
- Family-friendly workplace
Ideas live on, term becomes unfashionable
Science Fiction Eclipse of traditional magazines Omni (1978) - mixes SF with popular science and futurology
- 800,000 circulation
Star Wars (1977) changes everything More written by women
Few entirely new themes Influence of “new wave” still felt Traditional themes continue - Time travel
- Space war, etc
Literary quality inches up Less atomic war More economic/environmental pessimism
Big Dumb Objects Mankind discovers huge alien artifacts - Leading new topic of “hard” SF in 1970s
Many examples - Ringworld, Larry Niven (1970)
- Rendevous With Rama, Clarke (1973)
- Orbitsville, Bob Shaw (1975)
- Gateway, Frederick Pohl (1977)
More Women As readers - Starts in 1960s, partly with Star Trek
As writers - “James Tiptree Jr” – leading short story writer
- Pseudonym of Alice B. Sheldon (1915-1987)
Some follow feminist agenda - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Suzy McKee Charnas, Motherlines, 1978
Approach dwindles by mid-1980s
More Women II Others insert strong female characters in traditional SF frameworks - Joanna Russ, The Female Man, 1975 (fighter)
- Anne McCaffrey, Dragonflight (1968)
- Component stories won Hugo & Nebula
- Start of series
- Girls adventure stories – ponies as telepathic dragons
- Vonda McIntyre, Dreamsnake (1978)
Reign of the Dinosaurs “Golden Age” authors continue to dominate - Heinlein
- Long, self-referential, books
- Asimov (returns to SF in mid-70s)
- Clarke
None of them break much new ground
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