Rick and Morty

Why does science fiction matter?

For one, it provides a way for people to explore what it means to be part of the universe and to ponder philosophical questions about reality. As Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, said, science fiction is “the only genuine consciousness-expanding drug.” Furthermore, science fiction has the power to allow people to consider how society could function differently. So, science fiction can lead to progress. Author Helen Klus stated,  “Technology is progressing so fast that it is changing society, leading to unprecedented moral dilemmas and scientific challenges. This means that science fiction is more important now than ever.” The question is: Is Rick and Morty using its power in this genre in the right way? The answer is complex. There are things the show is doing right. There is a lot of diversity within the characters and female writers have been hired in order to improve the treatment of characters like Summer and Beth, for example. However, there are also things that still should be improved, such as the awareness in the creation of each episode of the cultural impact the treatment of gender might have. 

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The idea of transcendence

The use of science fiction in Rick and Morty has led to the idea that the show is somehow "transcendent". That word has been used in numerous reviews and viewer comments, but is it true? Yes, the characters literally transcend the limits of reality as we know it, flitting through dimensions and time. And yes, the characters transcend some norms of television, getting divorced, openly addressing the camera, and disparage meaning-making. But underneath all of this transcendence, the show is based in the rules of a sitcom and the characters are seeped in the confines of their gender. Ultimately, the show is using the guise of its genre to remain steeped in gender norms and insensitivity.