The genre of uchronia through The Man in the High Castle: a literary and cinematic perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-1352Palabras clave:
literature, audiovisual, uchronia, alternative history, genre, alternative present, multiple realities, science fictionResumen
Introduction: This article aims to define the elements which conform the uchronia through Philip K. Dick’s, The Man in the High Castle (1962), and the homonymous series produced by Ridley Scott and Frank Spotnitz (2015-2019). Methodology: The origins of the uchronia have been examined among the science fiction framework, as well as some definitions of the term from various disciplines. A descriptive analysis about the implied elements in the uchronian characterisation has been developed, following Altman’s semantic-syntactic approach to defining the cinematic genre, which has been transferred to the realm of literature. Analysis and results: The portrayal of fictional and historical figures produces semantic-syntactic connections, considering the conflicts that they introduce through their perception about the uchronian world. A series of minor objects connect to the concept of authenticity in distinctive areas, as one of the main themes that the genre examines. Conclusions: Contrarily to other correlated subgenres, the uchronia suggests a possible fictional world based on historical factors. The contrast between the novel and the series exhibits the solid connection between both formats despite their different nature.
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