Famous, Famous, Fictional: Difference between revisions

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When several examples of something are being listed in [[Speculative Fiction]], a couple of them will be from our time (or timeline if it's [[Alternate History]]), and the final one will be one from the future (or post-divergence [[Alternate History]]).
When several examples of something are being listed in [[Speculative Fiction]], a couple of them will be from our time (or timeline if it's [[Alternate History]]), and the final one will be one from the future (or post-divergence [[Alternate History]]).


The most common variant is to list famous scientists, [[Isaac Newton|Newton]], [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]], Kepler, [[Dichter and Denker|Heisenberg]], [[Leonardo Da Vinci|Da Vinci]] being quite popular, followed, finally, by a scientist from the future. Occasionally their inventions are also listed: Newton's mechanics, Einstein's relativity, [[Star Trek (Franchise)|Zefram Cochrane]]'s warp drive.
The most common variant is to list famous scientists, [[Isaac Newton|Newton]], [[Albert Einstein|Einstein]], Kepler, [[Dichter and Denker|Heisenberg]], [[Leonardo da Vinci|Da Vinci]] being quite popular, followed, finally, by a scientist from the future. Occasionally their inventions are also listed: Newton's mechanics, Einstein's relativity, [[Star Trek|Zefram Cochrane]]'s warp drive.


Usually the trope serves only to remind us that it is, in fact, the future and people haven't stopped thinking and discovering things in between our time and story's setting. It would be odd if there hasn't been any new discoveries or geniuses worth mentioning, especially if the story involves something like [[Faster-Than-Light Travel]]. When someone or something we already know is used as such, then author is just making a point: say, if [[Stephen Hawking|Hawking]] is mentioned, that means people of the future in that verse think he is a genius equal to Newton and Einstein, meaning that readers also should.
Usually the trope serves only to remind us that it is, in fact, the future and people haven't stopped thinking and discovering things in between our time and story's setting. It would be odd if there hasn't been any new discoveries or geniuses worth mentioning, especially if the story involves something like [[Faster-Than-Light Travel]]. When someone or something we already know is used as such, then author is just making a point: say, if [[Stephen Hawking|Hawking]] is mentioned, that means people of the future in that verse think he is a genius equal to Newton and Einstein, meaning that readers also should.
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* In the [[Film of the Book]] ''[[A Sound of Thunder]]'', Ben Kingsley's character is [[Large Ham|hamming up]] a speech for the Time Safari tourists, with the last name a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Capricorn One]]''.
* In the [[Film of the Book]] ''[[A Sound of Thunder]]'', Ben Kingsley's character is [[Large Ham|hamming up]] a speech for the Time Safari tourists, with the last name a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Capricorn One]]''.
{{quote| '''Charles Hatton:''' Today you stood shoulder to shoulder with Columbus discovering America. Armstrong stepping on the moon, Brubaker landing on Mars.}}
{{quote| '''Charles Hatton:''' Today you stood shoulder to shoulder with Columbus discovering America. Armstrong stepping on the moon, Brubaker landing on Mars.}}
* An example that may not even be found anymore, but when the ''[[Starship Troopers (Film)|Starship Troopers]]'' film was released, the accompanying website which contained a lot of character bios and historical information listed the Mobile Infantry alongside historically [[Elites Are More Glamorous|prestigious military units]] such as [[The Knights Templar]], [[Poles With Poleaxes|the Winged Hussars]] [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and the Navy Seals]].
* An example that may not even be found anymore, but when the ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]'' film was released, the accompanying website which contained a lot of character bios and historical information listed the Mobile Infantry alongside historically [[Elites Are More Glamorous|prestigious military units]] such as [[The Knights Templar]], [[Poles With Poleaxes|the Winged Hussars]] [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|and the Navy Seals]].


== [[Literature]] ==
== [[Literature]] ==
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led us to this perfect day... }}
led us to this perfect day... }}
* ''[[Diaspora]]'' by [[Greg Egan]] is a story of exploration and discovery by our virtualised descendants. It has physicists front and centre. The real-world Planck and Wheeler are joined in 2055 by Renata Kozuch. Wheeler suggested the vacuum is made out of a maze of microscopic quantum wormholes. Kozuch takes this idea and tranforms it into the foundation of particles physics: all ''particles'' are wormhole mouths. This is a rare example where the future member of the trio explicitly builds on the work of the real-world pair.
* ''[[Diaspora]]'' by [[Greg Egan]] is a story of exploration and discovery by our virtualised descendants. It has physicists front and centre. The real-world Planck and Wheeler are joined in 2055 by Renata Kozuch. Wheeler suggested the vacuum is made out of a maze of microscopic quantum wormholes. Kozuch takes this idea and tranforms it into the foundation of particles physics: all ''particles'' are wormhole mouths. This is a rare example where the future member of the trio explicitly builds on the work of the real-world pair.
* Used a few times in works by [[Arthur C. Clarke (Creator)]]:
* Used a few times in works by [[Arthur C. Clarke]]:
** ''[[Rendezvous With Rama]]'', "Rama needed the grandeur of Bach or Beethoven or Sibelius or Tuan Sun, not the trivia of popular entertainment."
** ''[[Rendezvous With Rama]]'', "Rama needed the grandeur of Bach or Beethoven or Sibelius or Tuan Sun, not the trivia of popular entertainment."
** ''[[The Fountains Of Paradise]]'': "Having first made his name with a new cosmological theory that had survived almost ten years before being refuted, Goldberg had been widely acclaimed as another Einstein or N'goya."
** ''[[The Fountains Of Paradise]]'': "Having first made his name with a new cosmological theory that had survived almost ten years before being refuted, Goldberg had been widely acclaimed as another Einstein or N'goya."
* In the third ''[[War Against the Chtorr]]'' book by David Gerrold, "The screams got louder, sounding like Auschwitz, Hiroshima or Show Low"
* In the third ''[[War Against the Chtorr]]'' book by David Gerrold, "The screams got louder, sounding like Auschwitz, Hiroshima or Show Low"
** Although, to be honest, the Show Low incident was discussed in detail in book one.
** Although, to be honest, the Show Low incident was discussed in detail in book one.
* There's a bit in a ''[[Red Dwarf (TV)|Red Dwarf]]'' novel, where Lister realised he's returned to Earth when he sees Mount Rushmore. The faces are Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and [[Rushmore Refacement|"possibly America's greatest President, Elaine Salinger"]].
* There's a bit in a ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' novel, where Lister realised he's returned to Earth when he sees Mount Rushmore. The faces are Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and [[Rushmore Refacement|"possibly America's greatest President, Elaine Salinger"]].


== [[Live Action TV]] ==
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* From the ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' universe:
* From the ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe:
** ''[[Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan (Film)|Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan]]'' was formerly the [[Trope Namer]].
** ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan]]'' was formerly the [[Trope Namer]].
{{quote| '''David:''' Well, don't have kittens. Genesis is going to work. They'll remember you in one breath with Newton, Einstein, Surak. }}
{{quote| '''David:''' Well, don't have kittens. Genesis is going to work. They'll remember you in one breath with Newton, Einstein, Surak. }}
** Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the first warp drive, frequently gets name-dropped along with scientific pioneers and explorers from the 20th century and earlier.
** Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the first warp drive, frequently gets name-dropped along with scientific pioneers and explorers from the 20th century and earlier.
** ''[[Star Trek the Original Series (TV)|Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode "Whom Gods Destroy".
** ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode "Whom Gods Destroy".
{{quote| '''Garth:''' All the others before me have failed. Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Lee Kuan, Krotus! All of them are dust! But I will triumph! I will make the ultimate conquest! }}
{{quote| '''Garth:''' All the others before me have failed. Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Hitler, Lee Kuan, Krotus! All of them are dust! But I will triumph! I will make the ultimate conquest! }}
** An inversion on ''[[Star Trek (Franchise)|Star Trek]]'' occurs in the original series episode "The Savage Curtain," where a battle between good and evil has "good" represented by Vulcan sage Surak, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and [[Abraham Lincoln]]. Evil, in turn, is represented by future warlord Colonel Green, [[Mad Scientist]] Zora, the Klingon warrior Kahless, and [[Genghis Khan]].
** An inversion on ''[[Star Trek]]'' occurs in the original series episode "The Savage Curtain," where a battle between good and evil has "good" represented by Vulcan sage Surak, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and [[Abraham Lincoln]]. Evil, in turn, is represented by future warlord Colonel Green, [[Mad Scientist]] Zora, the Klingon warrior Kahless, and [[Genghis Khan]].
** The novels get in on this too. From the [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch]]: "He had learned all he could about Earth's eminent explorers -- Leif Eriksson, Ferdinand Magellan, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Neil Armstrong, [[Star Trek Enterprise (TV)|Jonathan Archer]]..."
** The novels get in on this too. From the [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunch]]: "He had learned all he could about Earth's eminent explorers -- Leif Eriksson, Ferdinand Magellan, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, Neil Armstrong, [[Star Trek: Enterprise|Jonathan Archer]]..."
** In ''[[Voyager]]'', the Doctor lists some of the greatest performers of ''[[La Boheme]]''. The first two pairs are real people, the other is a pair of Vulcans.
** In ''[[Voyager]]'', the Doctor lists some of the greatest performers of ''[[La Boheme]]''. The first two pairs are real people, the other is a pair of Vulcans.
** In one episode of [[Star Trek the Next Generation (TV)|Next Generation]], Picard lists (only) two infamous men in history: [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan (Film)|Khan Singh]].
** In one episode of [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Next Generation]], Picard lists (only) two infamous men in history: [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Khan Singh]].
** In another [[Star Trek the Next Generation (TV)|TNG]] episode Picard mentions [[World War II|Pearl Harbor]] and [[Noodle Incident|Station Salem One]] as stages for bloody preambles to war.
** In another [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|TNG]] episode Picard mentions [[World War II|Pearl Harbor]] and [[Noodle Incident|Station Salem One]] as stages for bloody preambles to war.
** An episode of ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', "The Muse", an alien named Onaya lists artists she's "influenced" over the centuries such as Catullus, [[John Keats]], and Phineas Tarbolde. This is also a [[Continuity Nod]] since Tarbolde was mentioned in an episode of the original series.
** An episode of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', "The Muse", an alien named Onaya lists artists she's "influenced" over the centuries such as Catullus, [[John Keats]], and Phineas Tarbolde. This is also a [[Continuity Nod]] since Tarbolde was mentioned in an episode of the original series.
** Also from ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine (TV)|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', in "If Wishes Were Horses", Benjamin and Jake Sisko play holographic baseball with all the greats, like Tris Speaker, Ted Williams, and Buck Bokai.
** Also from ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'', in "If Wishes Were Horses", Benjamin and Jake Sisko play holographic baseball with all the greats, like Tris Speaker, Ted Williams, and Buck Bokai.
** In the ''[[Star Trek the Original Series (TV)|Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode "Court Martial", [[Simple Country Lawyer]] Samuel Cogley invokes [[The Bible (Literature)|The Bible]], the Codes of Hammarubi and [[Byzantine Empire|Justinian]], the [[Magna Carta]], the U.S. [[Constitution]], the Fundamental Declarations of the Martian Colonies, and the Statutes of Alpha III.
** In the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode "Court Martial", [[Simple Country Lawyer]] Samuel Cogley invokes [[The Bible]], the Codes of Hammarubi and [[Byzantine Empire|Justinian]], the [[Magna Carta]], the U.S. [[Constitution]], the Fundamental Declarations of the Martian Colonies, and the Statutes of Alpha III.
* In the ''[[Babylon 5]]'' episode "Infection", it's mentioned that Dr Franklin aspires to become one of the great names of medicine, alongside Fleming, Salk, Jenner, and Takahashi.
* In the ''[[Babylon 5]]'' episode "Infection", it's mentioned that Dr Franklin aspires to become one of the great names of medicine, alongside Fleming, Salk, Jenner, and Takahashi.
** In the third-season episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place":
** In the third-season episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place":
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== [[New Media]] ==
== [[New Media]] ==
* * This is #5 of ''[[Cracked (Website)|Cracked]]'''s [http://www.cracked.com/article_17392_6-sci-fi-movie-conventions-that-need-to-die.html 6 Sci-Fi Movie Conventions (That Need to Die)], the example being "Newton, Einstein, [[Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan (Film)|Sulak]]".
* * This is #5 of ''[[Cracked.com|Cracked]]'''s [http://www.cracked.com/article_17392_6-sci-fi-movie-conventions-that-need-to-die.html 6 Sci-Fi Movie Conventions (That Need to Die)], the example being "Newton, Einstein, [[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|Sulak]]".


== [[Western Animation]] ==
== [[Western Animation]] ==
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Famous,_Famous,_Fictional"