Lesson 1-2 - Time Travel
Cryogenics
Before we can understand the concepts of time travel presented in
Futurama, we must understand the concepts which should not be considered
time travel. The most important of these is cryogenics, which serves as
one of the series' most important plot devices.
Cryogenics is the study of the effect of very low temperatures on
carbon-based life forms. Fry's body is frozen in Applied Cryogenics, an
assumed company dedicated to preserving the dead through this means.
Fry, however, is still living when he is frozen, which may cause
confusion with time travel. (see Figure 1-3)
Time travel is considered moving backward and forward through time, as
we do through space. It is the former concept that bars cryogenics from
being considered time travel, as there is no traveling done, but rather
a preservation or 'time stop' only in thought, if you will.
Figure 1-3
The Hawking Hole
Although the segment on "what would have happened if Fry had never come
to the future" in Anthology of Interest I was largely a joke, it does
hold some scientific credibility. The idea of a spacetime continuum is
often heard of, but rarely understood. The basic concept came about
during the 19th century, and describes space as being three dimensions,
and time as being one. Both are said to follow a very strict pattern,
and can be given measurable and relatable coordinates. (see Figure 1-4)
In proposing that Fry does not go to the future, when he indeed should,
there is a "rip" or "tear" in the spacetime continuum due to a
misalignment that comes about. (see Figure 1-5) Of course, this would
bring about the notion that all events are predestined, therefore any
choice that may take place would be predestined and, thus, unchangeable.
Perhaps it is this paradox rather than a physical misalignment that
causes what is described in the next paragraph.
In the world of Futurama, this paradox is presented as a glitch,
and crashes the "program" causing the universe to be destroyed. This
would not be so terrible, if it didn't mean an eternity of Dungeons &
Dragons for those that survived, amazingly, the end of all that is.
Figure 1-4
Figure 1-5
A Serious Look
Like parallel universes (lesson 1-1), time travel is given a single
genuine look during the series. This comes about in Roswell That Ends
Well, the award-winning season 4 episode.
In it, the characters achieve the goal of travelling through time by
molecular combination of the waves given of by a supernova and those of
a home microwave. The idea is that the combination of these waves
creates an unstable environment, tearing a physical hole in space,
allowing the Planet Express Ship to criss-cross from space to space,
visiting a different time as well. (See Figure 1-6 for the creation of
this reaction. Of course, this hole is relatively small, and only allows
the travel from point A (3000) to point B (mid-20th century).
The PE crew then goes on to commit all sorts of havoc in the 20th
century, including Fry inadvertantly killing his own grandfather. The
plot is not very relevant to our studies, but one scene which begins the
plot is. After the hole has been ripped in space, the Planet Express
ship travels through time.
Time is represented here as an ideal vortex-type tunnel, similar to that
seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are also umpteen types of clocks in
the tunnel of time, which could possibly be a reference to perception.
The fabric of spactime may indeed be so complex that either 1.)human
beings are too inferior to see it for what it really is, so they
perceive these visible notions as familiar objects similar to the ideas
shown, such as clocks; or 2.)the spacetime continuum had already existed
previously, and was constructed by beings that were familiar with
clocks, and the PE crew simply reopened it. (See Figure 1-7 for an
illustration of the path taken to travel through time.)
Figure 1-6
Figure 1-7
Grandfather Paradox
Roswell That Ends Well takes the first serious look at time travel in a
cartoon series, and at the same time introduces one of the most often
spoken of concepts in the area.
The Grandfather Paradox first came about in science fiction, referring
to the conundrum of if you go back in time and kill your grandfather,
then you will never be born, and thus will never kill your grandfather.
This is considered one of the least refutable defenses that time travel
is impossible.
Of course, there have been several valid arguments against this, none
of which are used in Futurama. Instead, Fry takes the easy way
out and has sex with his own grandmother, insuring that he will be born,
as he is now his own grandfather. (For a more in depth look at Fry's
genetic makeup, see Lesson 6-4.) |
Futurama Textbook