Good science fiction has always been a reflection of the cultural moment we live in, depicting the fantasies and possibilities of our collective future. Recently, we’ve witnessed the birth of a new sci-fi microgenre, in which the future is directed inward, hewing much closer to our current world, but with much more psychological and philosophical questions at it’s core.
In this episode, we’ll discuss the common theme of two new shows, Pluribus and Severance, both on Apple TV, which depict a science fiction that is much more psychology than technology. Dr. Karen has labeled the condition at the center of both shows “neurological conformity,” and we’ll unpack what it is and why it might be the current trend in science fiction storytelling.
Additional Links:
“Is Neurological Conformity the Next Era of Streaming?” - Medium article by Karen B. Rosenbaum, MD
Music by ROSSER
