When Daedalus Meets Orpheus: Edwin Morgan’s Science-Fiction Poetry

Year 2018, Volume: 35 Issue: 1, 61 - 71, 15.06.2018

Merve Sarı

https://doi.org/10.32600/huefd.438501

Abstract

As is illustrated in a number of contemporary British poems, it is safe to assume that the reflections of science and technology in contemporary poetry are abundant. Influenced by the Space Race that had been going on between the US and the USSR and fascinated with “the shiny technological outcome,” Scottish poet Edwin Morgan wrote science fiction poems which present optimistic scenarios for the future of humanity. Putting people in extraordinary, if not impossible, circumstances, Morgan envisions a future where, despite the horrifying results of the catastrophes that had occurred on Earth, humans are shown as the ideal species to adapt to change. Forced to abandon Earth, humanity is excited about discovering new frontiers. Humanity’s positive attitude towards mutability reflects Morgan’s views, which regard evolution as a natural step. Determined to carry forward no matter what their dire circumstances

compel them to, humanity shows a strong stamina. Space exploration, alien encounters, teleportation, dematerialisation and rematerialisation are central to most of Morgan’s science fiction poetry. Particularly, his science-fiction poems, namely “For the International Poetry Incarnation,” “The First Men on Mercury,” “In Sobieski’s Shield” and “Memories of Earth,” in which encounters with the third kind occur reflect Morgan’s tendency to break down the distinctions between the human and non-human world. Thus, in an age when travelling to space is no longer a dream but a reality, Morgan’s poetry, unlike many post-apocalyptic science-fiction works of the twenty-first century, welcomes change quite positively. Contrary to miscellaneous post-apocalyptic scenarios regarding the future, which look back on the past quite wistfully and melancholically, Morgan’s science-fiction poetry presents an optimistic attitude towards mutability that eagerly and curiously awaits whatever the future has in store for humanity. In this sense, this article will argue that Morgan’s science-fiction poetry has an unwavering faith in progress, which by challenging the anthropocentric worldview introduces an alternate way to see things at the same time, besides underlining the adaptability of humankind into any environment despite the negative experiences they have underwent.

Keywords

Edwin Morgan, British Poetry, Contemporary Poetry, Science-fiction Poetry, Technology, Science, Space Race

When Daedalus Meets Orpheus: Edwin Morgan’s Science-Fiction Poetry

Abstract

Bilim ve teknolojinin yankıları çağdaş şiirde sıklıkla görülmektedir. Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve Sovyet Sosyalist Cumhuriyetler Birliği arasında devam etmekte olan uzay yarışından etkilenmiş ve teknolojinin gözkamaştırıcı çıktılarından büyülenmiş İskoç şair Edwin Morgan, insanlığın geleceği hakkında iyimser senaryolar öngören bilim kurgu şiirleri yazmıştır. İnsanları, imkânsız değilse de, olağanüstü durumlara yerleştiren Morgan, dünyadaki felaketlerin yıkıcı sonuçlarına rağmen geleceği insanların ideal bir tür olarak değişime ayak uydurabildikleri bir zaman olarak tasavvur eder. Dünyayı terk etmek zorunda kalan insanlık yeni hudutları keşfetmekten heyecan duyar. Morgan’ın evrimi bir sonraki doğal adım olarak gören bakış açısı, insanlığın değişime dair olumlu tutumundan kaynaklanır. Vahim şartlar neye zorlarsa zorlasın ilerlemeye kararlı olan insanlık, güçlü bir direnç gösterir. Uzayın keşfi, uzaylılarla karşılaşma, ışınlanma, maddenin bölünmesi ve maddenin yeniden yapılanması Morgan’ın bilimkurgu şiirlerinin başlıca konularıdır. Üçüncü türden varlıklarla karşılaşmayı içeren “For the International Poetry Incarnation”, “The First Men on Mercury”, “In Sobieski’s Shield” ve “Memories of Earth” başlıklı bilimkurgu şiirleri Morgan’ın insan ve insan olmayan türler arasındaki farklılıkları yok etme eğilimini gösterir. Uzaya yolculuğun gerçek olduğu bugünlerde, yirmi birinci yüzyılın birçok kıyamet sonrası bilimkurgu eserinin aksine Morgan şiirlerinde değişimi olumlu karşılar. Geçmişe özlem ve hüzünle bakan çeşitli kıyamet sonrası gelecek senaryosunun aksine, Morgan bilimkurgu şiirlerinde değişime iyimser yaklaşır, heves ve merakla geleceğin insanlığa neler getireceğini bekler.

Bu makale, Morgan’ın bilimkurgu şiirlerinin insan merkezli dünya görüşünü sorgulayarak olaylara değişik bir bakış açısı kazandırır ve ilerlemeye yönelik sarsılmaz bir inanca sahip olmanın yanı sıra olumuz deneyimlere rağmen insanoğlunun her çevreye uyum sağlayabileceğinin altını çizdiğini tartışır.

Keywords

Edwin Morgan, İngiliz şiiri, çağdaş şiir, bilimkurgu şiiri, teknoloji, bilim, uzay yarışı

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