Science Fact or Science Fiction... And Why?

The World’s Fair has always been an interesting topic to me. The time in history in which it developed, following the depression.  By the early 1900’s America had really developed into a solid and lasting country. And now (1939) had survived its first economic depression. The World’s Fair in New York focused on “Building the world of tomorrow” and “peace through understanding.” These themes were an attempt to bring about worldwide peace and collaboration. Technological advancements and the futuristic influences have always been apart of the world fairs.

Although many of the assumptions/predictions, if you will, of the World Fair in 1939 were surprisingly accurate, the overall portrayal of the future seemed more science fiction than fact.  The names of the dividing sectors of “democracity” for one give the immediate outlook of a fictional story. “Centerton, Millville, and pleasantville,” to me, sound like cities in I-Robot or a Sunday morning cartoon.  There are many points in the pamphlet where the portrayal of the world becomes to perfect for any person to fully accept. “You will miss the slums, and all the crime that breeds in the slums, all the nervous discomfort of overgrown cities and the smoky air and the dark rooms and sunless streets and the noise, you will miss all these....” Such description, implying that “democracity” will put an end to poverty and slums is only possible in the world of Willy Wonka where chocolate flows from waterfalls. Don’t get me wrong the ideas of the World Fair are intriguing to me and I do understand such rhetoric is in fact the point of the World Fair but we’re talking about science fiction not fact.

On the other hand Orson Wells and the “War of the Worlds” broadcast, which to me is far more fictional of a story then the ideas portrayed at the World Fair, seemed to deliver a feel of science fact and reality. People in the 18^th and 19^th century dramatically increased the study of astronomy and greatly increased the question of extraterrestrial life. This continued through the early 20^th century as technology continued to grow.

In 1938 the Orson Wells broadcast hit the radios of homes all across the country. Starting as what seemed to be a public service announcement he grabbed the attention of radio listeners everywhere (don’t forget this was a time before TV). Many Americans received their news from the radio broadcasts and when the “War of the Worlds” story came through many took it for just that. The fact aspect of the broadcast was greatly increased by the projection more than the story itself. It reminds me of the “moon hoax.” When news of such magnitude is given in a serious matter it is inevitable that some will take it for truth, no matter how far fetched or outrageous. When the news fits into the cultural questions and beliefs the number of believers increases dramatically and that is exactly what happened here.