Arena story

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Arena Story
The article by Jack Seabrook expounds on the similarities between the short story Arena and modern science fantasy television shows. The author argues that the theme of the “watcher” that was evident in the Fredric Brown story Arena of 1944 has inspired several shows such as Fantastic Four, Outer Limits, and Fringe. The 1944 short story by Brown has inspired many fantasy shows in the modern entertainment industry.
In Brown’s fiction story, the protagonist, Bob Carson receives a message from an advanced being that he needs to protect the races from the invading outsiders. That notion is replicated in both the Fantastic Four and Fringe where there is a “watcher” that guides the protagonist (Seabrook 1) However, the author agrees that the presentation of the watcher motif is different in both the television shows. He explains that Fredric Brown’s story revolves around the issues of the Second World War, but the television shows seek to elevate the status of the main character as a hero (Seabrook 1). However, in all the three stories, the “watcher” succeeds in fighting foreign invasion and protecting the human race.
I agree with the author that Frederic Brown story has offered inspiration to many science fiction shows. The fact that Arena was among the early science fiction story in the mid-20th century makes it a point of reference for many scriptwriters. Therefore, even though shows like Outer Limits do not acknowledge Brown’s story as a source, the content points to the similarities.

The Arena continues to be an essential reference point for many science fiction writers because it offers the apparent conflict of the outsiders against the human race. It is an integral concept studied in the course.

Works Cited
Seabrook, Jack. “Fredric Brown’s “Arena” And ‘The Outer Limits.'” Barebonesez.Blogspot.Com, 2011, http://barebonesez.blogspot.com/2011/02/fredric-browns-arena-and-outer-limits.html. Accessed 27 June 2018.