Uploaded a new video to my channel today about the film Hiding Out and the genre that used to be called "fantasy" and is now called "speculative fiction."

Over twenty views and no comments! You're all speechless!

I don't watch vlogs.

Or whatever you call those things.

I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I will.

Speculative Fiction was a term from the 1970's related to a particular style of science fiction, as far as I know. Stuff like Soylent Green, Rollerball and what have you.

"Speculative fiction" was an attempt to make science fiction seem more highbrow and literary;it was believed that the term "sci-fi" make people think of Buck Rogers,Flash Gordon,etc.That stuff wasn't going to win any Pulitzer Prizes.

The term was used by Robert Heinlein in 1947 to describe science fiction. That's not exactly recent.

Edit: I take that back. There's a reference to the term in 1900 as well.

I had no idea the term went back that far! Thanks for mentioning that. I've increased my fanboy knowledge today.

Now it's called the news.

So true.

I never said Harlan Ellison came up with the term. Harlan and other writers pushed for lower case "fantasy" (which often included science fiction elements) to be rebranded "speculative fiction," particularly after upper case Fantasy took off after Tolkien's books hit the mainstream. But even today, you mention "speculative fiction" to someone and 9/10 times they won't know what you're talking about.

True of most places...but right here, on IMWAN, you are among fellow fans and we know our speculative fictions from our interplanetary romances.

Even if we (and by 'we' I mean 'me') don't always know the precise origin(s) of the term(s).

Right, but IMWAN isn't my only audience.

I've never seen Hiding Out - sounds sort of fun - but from your description I wouldn't classify it as fantasy or speculative fiction. Comedy drama, yeah, fiction, certainly - but unless it's so far different such that it's clearly in an alternate history or timeline, the unlikelihood of an adult passing themselves off for a few weeks as a high school student doesn't sound too fantastic to believe. Most people can't do it, and most professional educators would probably spot it - but I suspect there would be instances where some might pull it off and even more likely, some professionals would miss it, or daren't verbalize their suspicions lest they be accused of something inappropriate.

I wouldn't even call Glee, as an example, fantasy or speculative fiction, though the cast of mid 20's to early 30's (after its 6- year run) actors as high school students isn't as much as a stretch as the wonderfully choreographed musical and dance numbers portrayed weekly and ostensibly as unrehearsed or spontaneous performances would have been. Very unrealistic stuff. Still, I think calling it a fantasy would be misleading.

Of course, some things happen, IIRC, though don't ask me what - that may have bordered on supernatural occurrences. But the gist of the series isn't fantasy, IMO. I think it takes more than that to qualify as fantasy.

I don't think it would be hard to remake Hiding Out as a fantasy/speculative fiction piece. You just eliminate most of the comedy.