Learning About Aging Through Literature: A Comparative Analysis of Two Science Fiction Novels

Bratuša, Nina (avtor), Samaluk, Barbara (mentor), Šporčič, Anamarija (mentor)

Aging is commonly understood as a biological process, but it is also subject to sociocultural assumptions. In this context, fiction has a role in informally educating readers about social perceptions and norms related to aging. The purpose of this master’s thesis was to investigate the representation of older people in selected contemporary science fiction novels and to examine how these representations differ from one another, which stereotypes and definitions of aging they promote or challenge, what readers can learn about aging and older people from these novels, and how negative or positive representations can influence readers’ understanding of ageism. The research was based on a qualitative comparative analysis, and the central method of our analysis was close reading. We used thematic analysis to process the data and ultimately connected our findings with the broader social context. We analyzed the novels Old Man’s War 2005 by John Scalzi and Remnant Population 1996 by Elizabeth Moon, which we selected because of their similar temporal and geographical contexts and the similar ages of their protagonists. The findings show that both novels incorporated both positive and negative assumptions about old age and differed primarily in the protagonists’ responses to it. The protagonist of Old Man’s War internalized the stereotypes and adapted to them so that he would once again be regarded as a productive and equal member of society, while the protagonist of Remnant Population rejected these stereotypes, left her society, and proved that older people can be highly valued despite their age. Representations that reinforce negative stereotypes may encourage an uncritical reader to reproduce them, whereas problematizing these stereotypes may encourage the reader to question them. It is important to note that the study does not assess the readers’ actual learning process but rather highlights the potential of science fiction as a genre through which readers can informally learn about social issues. This informal learning can consequently encourage transformative learning, through which readers may change their beliefs based on newly acquired knowledge.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: aging, older adults, ageism, science fiction, informal learning, socialization, transformative learning
• Vrsta gradiva: Magistrsko delo/naloga
• Organizacija: FF - Filozofska fakulteta
• Leto izida: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-189017
• Datum objave v RUL: 01.10.2026

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Naslov: Učenje o staranju skozi literarna dela: primerjalna analiza dveh znanstvenofantastičnih romanov

Izvleček

Staranje je laično poznano kot biološki pojav, vendar pa je poleg tega podvrženo tudi družbenokulturnim vplivom. Prav zato ima tudi leposlovje vlogo v neformalnem učenju bralcev o družbenih predstavah in normah, povezanih s staranjem. Namen magistrskega dela je bil raziskati reprezentacijo starejših ljudi v izbranih sodobnih znanstvenofantastičnih romanih ter proučiti, kako se te reprezentacije med seboj razlikujejo, katere stereotipe in opredelitve staranja spodbujajo ali problematizirajo in kaj se o staranju in starejših ljudeh lahko iz romanov naučijo bralci. Prav tako nas je zanimalo, kako lahko negativne ali pozitivne reprezentacije vplivajo na bralčevo razumevanje starizma. Raziskava je temeljila na kvalitativni primerjalni analizi, osrednja metoda naše analize pa je bila natančno branje. Pri obdelavi podatkov smo uporabili tematsko analizo in ugotovitve na koncu še povezali s širšim družbenim kontekstom. Analizirali smo romana Old Man's War avtorja Johna Scalzija iz leta 2005 in Remnant Population avtorice Elizabeth Moon iz leta 1996, ki smo ju izbrali zaradi podobnega časovnega in geografskega konteksta ter podobne starosti protagonistov. Ugotovitve kažejo, da sta oba romana vključevala tako pozitivne kot negativne družbene predpostavke o starosti, vendar pa sta se pri tem razlikovala predvsem pri odzivu protagonistov. Protagonist romana Old Man's War je stereotipe ponotranjil in se jim prilagodil, da je bil v družbi spet obravnavan kot produktiven in enakovreden član, medtem ko se je protagonistka romana Remnant Population stereotipom uprla, svojo družbo zapustila in dokazala, da imajo starejši ljudje v družbi lahko visoko vrednost kljub svoji starosti. Reprezentacije, ki so temeljile na negativnih stereotipih, lahko nekritičnega bralca spodbudijo k njihovemu reproduciranju, problematiziranje teh stereotipov pa lahko bralca spodbudi k njihovemu preizpraševanju. Raziskava sicer ne analizira dejanskega učenja bralcev, temveč izpostavlja potencial znanstvene fantastike kot žanra, s pomočjo katerega se lahko bralci priložnostno učijo o družbenih problemih. To priložnostno učenje lahko spodbudi tudi transformativno učenje, pri katerem bralci svoja prepričanja na podlagi na novo usvojenega znanja spremenijo ali prilagodijo.

• Ključne besede: staranje, starejši, starizem, znanstvena fantastika, priložnostno učenje, socializacija, transformativno učenje