Content Details | NUML Online Research Repository

Title SOLASTALGIA AND ALTERITY IN SPACE: AN ECOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF THE SHOW LOST IN SPACE

Author(s) Momal Saleem

Abstract Title: Solastalgia and Alterity in Space: An Ecolinguistic Study of the show Lost in Space This interdisciplinary research falls into the domains of linguistics (precisely ecolinguistics) and semiotics. Streaming Netflix series like “Lost in Space” are capable of shaping and reshaping societal perspectives through their linguistic and visual narratives. This research aims to investigate the way media designs the interaction of human beings with the space environment keeping in mind the themes of solastalgia and alterity. This study aims to analyze this interaction from both a linguistic and semiotic perspective. The study analyzes whether the outer space environment is viable for human beings or not. While the existing body of knowledge has made significant strides in understanding human interaction with regard to the environment of Earth, this study finds a notable gap in the literature concerning the relationship between humans and the outer space environment from a linguistic and semiotic standpoint. This research seeks to address this gap by employing Ming Cheng’s framework of Ecological Discourse Analysis (2022) and Thomas Albert Sebeok’s Biosemiotic Model (2001). On one hand, through the Transitivity System of EDA, this research underscores the emotional responses triggered by the catastrophes of outer space, while on the other hand, the Mood System of EDA helps understand the relationship between humans and extraterrestrial species, thereby highlighting the themes of solastalgia and alterity respectively. Moreover, the application of Biosemiotics is considered to be instrumental for this research as it helps understand the process of meaning-making with regard to the environment of outer space. The data for this research comprises the closed captions of the series “Lost in Space”. The sampling technique is based on purposive sampling with the rationale to include only those episodes that largely reflect the themes of solastalgia and alterity. The research finds that space environment induces distress, discomfort and fear in human beings. Moreover, it also suggests that it is not possible for human beings to co-exist with the alien species. The study recommends that the future researchers must further explore the alternative narratives concerning human beings and space environment as it will help understand this area more comprehensively.

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-01-23

Subject

Publisher

Contributor(s)

Format

Identifier

Source

Relation

Coverage

Rights