History of the FutureHistory of the Future

9: The Future in the 1970s9: The Future in the 1970s

This SessionThis Session

America in the 1970s: Big pictureAmerica in the 1970s: Big picture Political and economic turmoilPolitical and economic turmoil Loss of national confidenceLoss of national confidence

VietnamVietnam WatergateWatergate OilshockOilshock

Contiuning social changeContiuning social change

Vietnam (continues)Vietnam (continues)

Nixon elected in 1968 with peace promiseNixon elected in 1968 with peace promise Reduces US troops on ground, starts talksReduces US troops on ground, starts talks Expands war in other areas (Cambodia, etc)Expands war in other areas (Cambodia, etc)

Domestic opposition growsDomestic opposition grows My Lai massacre reported in 1970My Lai massacre reported in 1970 National Guard kills 6 at Kent State, 1970National Guard kills 6 at Kent State, 1970 Congress pushes for endCongress pushes for end

Final agreement in Jan 1973Final agreement in Jan 1973 US takes no action in 1975 as South fallsUS takes no action in 1975 as South falls

Undermines America’s faith in its power, moralityUndermines America’s faith in its power, morality Destroys political consensus on foreign policyDestroys political consensus on foreign policy

DétenteDétente Begins under NixonBegins under Nixon

Visits China in 1972 – exploit divisions with Visits China in 1972 – exploit divisions with USSRUSSR

New treaties with SovietsNew treaties with Soviets Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT)

Continues under CarterContinues under Carter Reversed in 1979Reversed in 1979

After Soviet invasion of AfghanistanAfter Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Renewed arms race followsRenewed arms race follows

WatergateWatergate

Burglary of Democratic office by Nixon Burglary of Democratic office by Nixon operativesoperatives Covert action against political enemies from Covert action against political enemies from

19701970 Break-in occurs in 1972, foiledBreak-in occurs in 1972, foiled

Story develops slowlyStory develops slowly Pressure grows, investigations deepenPressure grows, investigations deepen Investigations, tapes, firingsInvestigations, tapes, firings Nixon resigns facing impeachment in Aug 74Nixon resigns facing impeachment in Aug 74

Undermines faith in politicians, presidencyUndermines faith in politicians, presidency

Oil Shock – Energy CrisisOil Shock – Energy Crisis Following 1973 war with IsraelFollowing 1973 war with Israel

OPEC bars US exports; hikes oil pricesOPEC bars US exports; hikes oil prices Price rises from $3 to $18Price rises from $3 to $18

Tips economy into recessionTips economy into recession ““Stagflation” – new phenomenonStagflation” – new phenomenon Happens again in 1979, Iranian RevolutionHappens again in 1979, Iranian Revolution

Idea of energy policy gains popularityIdea of energy policy gains popularity Small cars, alternative energy boomSmall cars, alternative energy boom ““Telecommuting” is one responseTelecommuting” is one response

America Under SiegeAmerica Under Siege

America at the mercy of foreignersAmerica at the mercy of foreigners Defeat in VietnamDefeat in Vietnam Oil shockOil shock Iranian Hostage crisis following 1979 Iranian Hostage crisis following 1979

revolutionrevolution American industries crumble to importsAmerican industries crumble to imports

SteelSteel Consumer electronics – TVConsumer electronics – TV Motorcycles, carsMotorcycles, cars

Social ChangeSocial Change

““60s” things become mainstream in 70s60s” things become mainstream in 70s DrugsDrugs More sexual partners, cohabitationMore sexual partners, cohabitation Health food (if not communes)Health food (if not communes)

More divorce; later marriageMore divorce; later marriage Far more married women workingFar more married women working Increasing social fragmentationIncreasing social fragmentation

LifestylesLifestyles MusicMusic RacesRaces

EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism Environmental Protection Agency (1970)Environmental Protection Agency (1970)

Set up by Nixon!Set up by Nixon! Consolidates pollution control programsConsolidates pollution control programs Strengthened under Carter – risk Strengthened under Carter – risk

assessment dutiesassessment duties Technology PolicyTechnology Policy

Office of Technology Assessment – 1972Office of Technology Assessment – 1972 Non-partisan reports on technological issuesNon-partisan reports on technological issues

Carter administration favors energy Carter administration favors energy researchresearch

Interest in renewable sources, conservationInterest in renewable sources, conservation

FeminismFeminism

Growing movement in 1970sGrowing movement in 1970s Some radicalism – lesbianism as political Some radicalism – lesbianism as political

statementstatement Possibility of all-female societyPossibility of all-female society

How inherent are gender differences?How inherent are gender differences? Would women run a better world?Would women run a better world?

Political pushPolitical push Equal Rights Amendment passes congress in 1972Equal Rights Amendment passes congress in 1972 Non-discrimination in law and workNon-discrimination in law and work Family-friendly workplaceFamily-friendly workplace

Ideas live on, term becomes unfashionableIdeas live on, term becomes unfashionable

Science FictionScience Fiction

Eclipse of traditional magazinesEclipse of traditional magazines Galaxy at end of 1970sGalaxy at end of 1970s

Omni (1978) Omni (1978) mixes SF with popular science and mixes SF with popular science and

futurologyfuturology 800,000 circulation800,000 circulation

Star Wars (1977) changes everythingStar Wars (1977) changes everything More written by womenMore written by women

Few entirely new themesFew entirely new themes

Influence of “new wave” still feltInfluence of “new wave” still felt Traditional themes continueTraditional themes continue

Time travelTime travel Space war, etcSpace war, etc

Literary quality inches upLiterary quality inches up More rounded characters More rounded characters

Less atomic warLess atomic war More economic/environmental More economic/environmental

pessimismpessimism

Big Dumb ObjectsBig Dumb Objects

Mankind discovers huge alien Mankind discovers huge alien artifactsartifacts Leading new topic of “hard” SF in 1970sLeading new topic of “hard” SF in 1970s

Many examplesMany examples Ringworld, Larry Niven (1970)Ringworld, Larry Niven (1970) Rendevous With Rama, Clarke (1973)Rendevous With Rama, Clarke (1973) Orbitsville, Bob Shaw (1975)Orbitsville, Bob Shaw (1975) Gateway, Frederick Pohl (1977)Gateway, Frederick Pohl (1977)

More WomenMore Women

As readersAs readers Starts in 1960s, partly with Star TrekStarts in 1960s, partly with Star Trek

As writersAs writers ““James Tiptree Jr” – leading short story writerJames Tiptree Jr” – leading short story writer Pseudonym of Alice B. Sheldon (1915-1987)Pseudonym of Alice B. Sheldon (1915-1987)

Some follow feminist agendaSome follow feminist agenda Ursula K. Le GuinUrsula K. Le Guin Suzy McKee Charnas, Motherlines, 1978Suzy McKee Charnas, Motherlines, 1978

Approach dwindles by mid-1980sApproach dwindles by mid-1980s

More Women IIMore Women II Others insert strong female characters in Others insert strong female characters in

traditional SF frameworkstraditional SF frameworks Joanna Russ, The Female Man, 1975 (fighter)Joanna Russ, The Female Man, 1975 (fighter)

Some incorporate traditional female rolesSome incorporate traditional female roles Anne McCaffrey, Dragonflight (1968)Anne McCaffrey, Dragonflight (1968)

Component stories won Hugo & NebulaComponent stories won Hugo & Nebula Start of seriesStart of series Girls adventure stories – ponies as telepathic dragonsGirls adventure stories – ponies as telepathic dragons

Vonda McIntyre, Dreamsnake (1978)Vonda McIntyre, Dreamsnake (1978) Healer womanHealer woman

Reign of the DinosaursReign of the Dinosaurs ““Golden Age” authors Golden Age” authors

continue to dominatecontinue to dominate HeinleinHeinlein

Long, self-referential, booksLong, self-referential, books Asimov (returns to SF in mid-Asimov (returns to SF in mid-

70s)70s) ClarkeClarke

None of them break much None of them break much new groundnew ground