From: adw@cci632.cci.com (Allen Williams (co-op))
Subject: ENGLISH COMPOSITION (ESSAY!) 
Organization: Computer Consoles Incorporated
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 14:47:30 GMT



 Rochester Institute of Technology - English Composition 260 (Snooty Writing).

 Essay Examination.


 Using the essay techniques you learned in this class, write an essay on the
following topic. You must use at least three (3) like and three (3) unlike 
examples.


 Compare and contrast time travel between "Star Trek" and "Back to the Future".
You must use a total of six examples as described above. Write clearly and
legibly, using good grammar and spelling.



	"Similarities and differences between time travel as a literary
	 device between Star Trek and Back to the Future"
                                 ESSAY By Derrick Williams


 	Time travel is an important fictional device in many works of
literature. Two such works of literature are "Star Trek" and "Back to the
Future". These two works use time travel as a fictional device in the plot.
Time travel as a fictional device can be used in many ways, as the said
works do. The use of this device in these works are similar, yet in some
ways they are different. By examining how they are similar, then different,
the scholar of these works can gain a better understanding of time travel
as a device in works of literary fiction.

	In "Star Trek", time travel is often used to visit the 20th
century, as in the work,  "Star Trek IV". In "Back to the Future", the
literary use of time travel is also in those years, although the years
visited range from the 19th to the 21st century. Although both works 
could have used the beginnings of time or the far flung future, the authors
chose this narrow range of years. Since the authors lived in these times,
it is possible they chose to reflect on their times through the eyes of
strangers looking in what they saw as familiar.

	Another similarity between the two works include falling in love
with people in the past. In "Star Trek", one of the characters, Captain
James T. Kirk, falls in love with a woman in the 1930's, causing him to
reject the notion of returning to his own time. In "Back to the Future Part
III", Dr. Emmet Brown also falls in love with a woman, causing him to reject
all thoughts of returning to his own time also. The use of love shows that
basic human feelings often overcome the accomplishments of fantastic 
technology (a case of science vs. nature).

 	One more similarity between "Star Trek" and "Back to the Future" time
travel literary devices is that time travel is difficult to acheive. In "Star
Trek", one must go to Warp One around a massive gravity well, as in "Star 
Trek IV", or else must use alien technology, as in "The Guardian of Forever".	In "Back to the Future", Dr. Emmet Brown must use 1.6 Gigawatts of power
to send the DeLorean (a type of automobile) to a point in time. He also needed
the use of a "flux capacitor", which was necessary to power the literary
device. Since time travel is believed to be impossible, the authors used 
fantastic devices to handwave the impossibility of time travel, yet bring
believabilty into their works.

	One difference between "Star Trek" and "Back to the Future" in thier
use of time travel as a literary device is the effects of visiting the past.
In "Star Trek", the characters visiting the past had little effect on their
time, unless the characters worked to that effect. For example, the transport
of humpback whales from the 20th century to the 24th century went unnoticed
in the 20th century. On the other hand, Mr. Scott introduced "transparent
aluminum" to the 20th century, but to the person who historically invented
it the first place. In "Back to the Future", time travel had dire consequences.
Marty McFly, a character, prevents his own parents from meeting and falling
in love, endangering his existence. The fragility of the socio-economic
structure is a topic that is a theme in the two works.

	Also, "Star Trek" and "Back to the Future" differ in periodicity.
For example, "Star Trek" portrays periods of time as flexible and dynamic,
with each era seperate and distinct. For example, the plot and themes
between "Star Trek IV" and "The Guardian of Forever" are different enough
to be considered two unique stories. On the other hand, "Back to the Future"
shows that certain things are similar in different time periods. For example,
the use of hoverboards in the work, "Back to the Future Part II" parallels
the use of skateboards in "Back to the Future". Also, the mannersims of
Biff are repeated by his son, Giff. Each author reflects on his ideas
that mankind can either be static or dynamic through the ages.
 
	One last difference between the two works in the use of time travel
as a literary device is the use of time travel as a means of exploration or
a means to an end. Time travel is used as an exporatory vehicle in "Back
to the Future", whereas in "Star Trek", time travel is used as a solution
to a problem. For example, in "Back to the Future", Dr. Emmet Brown states
he will use his time machine to explore all the places in time that interested
him. In "Star Trek IV", Captain Kirk informs Starfleet Headquarters of his
intention to transport humpback whales to the 24th century to solve the problem
of the intergalatic probe causing weather disruption to 24th century Earth. 
Clearly, although both characters are able to achieve time travel, their
use of time travel differs in the way they utilize it for certain problems.

	Time travel is an important literary device in many works of
fiction, and by understanding the themes underlying their use, one
may gain a deeper understanding of the issues the authors felt were
important. 




                                                          Derrick

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