Today: A pieces from the world of literature
A recent bit on hilobrow.com discussed the archetypal science fiction narrative. The author decided that, rather than the bold explorer, which is also frequently found in the genre, refugee stories are the most common. "District 9" certainly comes to mind, but I was curious what other examples could be found. My curiosity was definitely satisfied with references from Superman to Doctor Who.
Having been reminded of all of these instances of the science fiction refugee, it struck me that these were not obscure characters or stories. Many of the examples are a part of the collective imagination. Yet despite their familiarity, I had never really thought much of the science fiction refugee narrative until "District 9" made it blatantly obvious. One thinks of Superman as a hero; his refugee origins merely fill the function of a back story.
Why is it that even when it is familiar to us, it is easy to overlook the refugee? Perhaps part of it is that refugees don't necessarily stay refugees forever. As in Superman's case, they assimilate and lose the distinction. Another factor is that our schema for refugees is not broad enough. Refugees are "supposed" to be in a foreign country, wearing rags, and look worn out. Superman and Doctor Who hardly fit into these categories. Maybe, if we expand our understanding of what a refugee is, we will recognize them more easily, whether they are found in science fiction or our home town.