How can we introduce sci fi to the younger generation?

[CmdrShep2183]

I notice the younger generations like to watch Netflix and read dystopian fiction as well as fantasy. One of them I know said Star Wars doesn't interest them but they enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy.

How would you introduce sci fi to the younger generations?

Is an optimistic space opera the answer?

Should there be an epic space opera on Netflix?

If so what would it be like?

 

[dahj]

The biggest movies these days are Star Wars and the myriad comic book movies which are littered with sci-fi elements, so I'm not exactly sure I understand the question.

 

[Kilana2]

I don't have kids and I don't support Netflix. If I had kids I wouldn't pay an account/subscription for them. When they are old enough they have to pay for the subscription themselves if they want.
When I was young, I loved to buy and read Fantasy books or I got them as gift. Like the Neverending Story. How I love this book! Children tend to rely too much on technology. Only few of them still read books. So I appreciate it when fellow Trekkies like @StefanM or other parents still read books with their children. No matter if it is Star Trek, Star Wars, Fantasy Novels or Harry Potter.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

I don't have kids and I don't support Netflix.

Any particular reason?

 

[Kilana2]

Any particular reason?

Only financial reason. It's not as if I'm not interested in Discovery. I just don't want to pay for it. It's the same with Football/Soccer/Campions League. From now on only available via DAZN (streaming service). It would make me go broke.

 

[Greg Cox]

I notice the younger generations like to watch Netflix and read dystopian fiction as well as fantasy. One of them I know said Star Wars doesn't interest them but they enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy.

Not seeing a problem here. Sure, it's cool when young folks discover the old classics, but they're not obliged to. Not too surprising if they often gravitate to their own generation's stuff just like we all did. Are they supposed to prefer STAR WARS to GUARDIANS? Or read more utopian SF instead of dystopias?

Lord knows I read every kind of sf and fantasy I could get my hands on back in the day: some of it old, some of it brand new, some of it optimistic, some of it deliciously apocalyptic and dystopian.

As Little Drummer Girl Said, as long as they're reading, who cares if it's Asimov and Bradbury or THE HUNGER GAMES and HARRY POTTER . ....

 

[Awesome Possum]

I’ve gotten my five year old nephew into Doctor Who and he loves it, especially the current Doctor. We’re having to get him a bunch of Doctor Who stuff for Christmas now. His eight year sister is starting to like it too, she likes the scary ones.

 

[Greg Cox]

I had a cool moment recently when one of my nieces, who has just discovered vampires, asked Uncle Greg to recommend some good vampire books and movies for her. Which was doubly amusing since it was my late aunt who first hooked me on the original DARK SHADOWS back in the sixties.

It's the circle of unlife.

 

[MacLeod]

I don't think there is much of an issue

A quick look at the all-time box office charts shows

8 out of the Top 10 fall into the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre
14 out of the Top 20

 

[Awesome Possum]

Most kids like Star Wars, they may not enjoy the originals because it wasn’t really made for them. They seem to be loving the new films and comic book movies.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I don't think there is much of an issue

A quick look at the all-time box office charts shows

8 out of the Top 10 fall into the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre
14 out of the Top 20

And that number is higher than if you adjust for inflation, which only proves that scifi is *more* popular now.

The only way to get kids into the classics is to leave them alone and make it easy for them to discover it on their own when they choose to. The more you try to force kids to like something, the more biased they will be to reasons not to like it.

When I was a teenager my dad tried to get me into classic rock, and I wasn't interested. Then around when I was 18, I got tired of the new music that was coming out and asked him for recommendations for 60s music.

 

[MacLeod]

One other factor to possible consider there is more diversification than in previous years, i.e. with the rise of streaming services There is plenty of SF&F TV

Doctor Who
Star Trek: Discovery
Supergirl
The Flash
Legends of Tomorrow
Arrow

To name a few,but because we have more ways to watch they have become less event TV.

 

[F. King Daniel]

As others have said, there are plenty of sci-fi shows around which are geared younger, like Doctor Who and the DC TV stuff. I'm hoping the in-development Starfleet Academy series will bring the current generation of young-people-who-would-watch Buffy, Smallville and similar to the Trekverse.

 

[Mudd]

The Orville.

 

[Greg Cox]

As others have said, there are plenty of sci-fi shows around which are geared younger, like Doctor Who and the DC TV stuff. I'm hoping the in-development Starfleet Academy series will bring the current generation of young-people-who-would-watch Buffy, Smallville and similar to the Trekverse.

Although even BUFFY ended fifteen years ago and SMALLVILLE ended seven years ago, so the fans of those shows are probably not so "young" anymore.

Probably only a matter of time before some truly young fan asks "Buffy? You mean that old show from the nineties?"

Or even: "Wait. There was another BUFFY show before the new one?"

 

[HugeLobes]

Children tend to rely too much on technology. Only few of them still read books.

I hear that a lot from people my age. Then I ask them what they're reading and the reply is usually 'nothing'. Whenever I meet someone's kid I ask them what they're reading and always get an answer.

Same when I was growing up. I read a lot, but my grandparents would always chastise me for spending too much time watching videos.

 

[JD]

Most the popular stuff out there right now has sci-fi elements, so I don't think it's that much of an issue.

 

[dahj]

Probably only a matter of time before some truly young fan asks "Buffy? You mean that old show from the nineties?"

"BtVS: TOS you mean? I mean I kinda like it but those cardboard sets really put me off from watching it."

 

[Greg Cox]

I hear that a lot from people my age. Then I ask them what they're reading and the reply is usually 'nothing'. Whenever I meet someone's kid I ask them what they're reading and always get an answer.

Same when I was growing up. I read a lot, but my grandparents would always chastise me for spending too much time watching videos.

For what's it worth, I have a small army of nieces and nephew, and they're all voracious readers. But then, my siblings and I grew up in a household where reading and trips to the library were routine. (One of my nieces is almost never seen without a book and is on a first-name basis with most of the clerks at their neighborhood bookstore.)

 

[Jedi Marso]

I think the up and coming generation will discover sci-fi for themselves, easily enough.