The Apocalyptic Chronotope in “Farewell to the Master” and The Day the Earth Stood Still

Yıl 2019, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 1, 113 - 126, 30.06.2019

Züleyha Çetiner-öktem

Öz

Mythic and religious narratives that envision the end of the world position the apocalypse in a futuristic time where certain events would sequentially occur finally building up to the inevitable end. Speculative fiction that depicts near-apocalypses do not however, prefer unconceivable futures but favour the current time of the narrative, depicting them as events happening now. Operating within the apocalyptic chronotope, science fiction bonds present day concerns with possible catastrophes. One such narrative is Harry Bates’ short story “Farewell to the Master” (1940) which also generated two film adaptations entitled The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951, 2008). While Bates’ short story relates how humanity is prone to act imprudently during a relatively peaceful period, the 1951 film turns to that of the Cold War and its repercussions, and the 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still centres around the theme of nature. As environmental concerns dominate our era the 2008 film reflects humanity’s ever- growing consumption and destruction of its natural surroundings. As the source text and its adaptations provide possible apocalyptic visions or scenarios adjusted to their respective audiences, this essay analyses these narratives through the apocalyptic chronotope, exploring and building on Bakhtin’s theory. In doing so, this essay attempts to discern the ways in which adapted near apocalyptic scenarios shift and change to accommodate contemporary concerns within a temporal and spatial framework.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Science Fiction, Adaptation, Near Apocalyptic Narratives, Bakhtin, Apocalyptic Chronotope

“Efendiye Elveda” ve Dünyanın Durduğu Gün’de Kıyamet Kronotopu

Öz

Dünyanın sonunu hayal eden mitsel ve dinsel metinler genelde kıyameti sırasıyla gerçekleşecek olan alametlerin sonunda, gelecekte bir zamana yerleştirir. Olası kıyametleri betimleyen spekülatif kurgu ise tahmin edilemeyen bir gelecekte değil, metnin şimdiki zamanında gerçekleşen bir olay olarak gösterir kıyameti. Bilim kurgu metinleri, kıyamet kronotopunun içerisinde işleyerek, güncel sorunlarla muhtemel afetleri birbirine bağlar. Buna örnek olabilecek metinlerden birisi ise Harry Bates’in “Efendiye Elveda” (1940) isimli kısa hikayesidir. Bu kaynak metin ayrıca Dünyanın Durduğu Gün (1951, 2008) adında iki film uyarlamasına da neden olmuştur. Bates’in kısa hikayesi görece barışçıl bir dönemde insanlığın nasıl öngörüsüz davranabileceğine değinirken, 1951 filmi Soğuk Savaşa ve doğurabileceği sonuçlara odaklanır. Dünyanın Durduğu Gün’ün 2008 yeniden yapımı ise merkezine doğa temasını alır: çevresel kaygılar dönemimize hükmettiğinden, bu film insanlığın doğal çevresini durmadan tüketmesi ve yok etmesini yansıtır. Kaynak metin ve uyarlamaları olası kıyamet görülerini veya senaryolarını dönemin seyircisine uyarlayarak sunduğundan, bu makale bahsi geçen metinleri Bakhtin’in kronotop teorisinden beslenip üzerine yapılandırarak kıyamet kronotopu aracılığıyla incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Böylelikle, bu makale uyarlanmış olası kıyamet senaryolarının güncel kaygıları barındırabilmek için zamansal ve uzamsal çerçevede nasıl değişime uğrayıp şekillendiğini irdeleyecektir

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bilim Kurgu, Uyarlama, Olası Kıyamet Metinleri, Bakhtin, Kıyamet Kronotopu

Kaynakça

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