Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

58 | Seth MacFarlane on Using Science Fiction to Explore Humanity

Aug 5, 2019

In this engaging conversation, Seth MacFarlane, creator of 'Family Guy' and 'The Orville,' reflects on how science fiction can explore humanity's complexities. He discusses the evolution of sci-fi storytelling from episodic to serialized formats and the influence of classics like 'Star Trek.' The conversation dives into themes of technology and addiction, ethical dilemmas in narratives, and the intricacies of human-AI relationships. Seth also shares insights on social media interactions and the balance of humor with serious themes in his work.

01:12:14

Episode guests

Seth MacFarlane

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Episodic vs. Serialized: The Evolution of Sci-Fi TV

4min

Echoes of Sci-Fi: Shaping Modern Narrative

14min

Organic Character Development and Educational Opportunities

2min

Exploring Addiction and Technology through Sci-Fi Narratives

2min

Navigating Twitter: Blocking, Mute, and Social Connections

2min

Navigating Ethics in Tech and Storytelling

11min

Intimacy in AI: The Ethics of Connection

10min

Navigating Time Travel and Cultural Representation

19min

10.

Navigating the Worlds of Sci-Fi and Production

6min

Fiction shines a light on the human condition by putting people into imaginary situations and envisioning what might happen. Science fiction expands this technique by considering situations in the future, with advanced technology, or with utterly different social contexts. Seth MacFarlane’s show The Orville is good old-fashioned space opera, but it’s also a laboratory for exploring the intricacies of human behavior. There are interpersonal conflicts, sexual politics, alien perspectives, and grappling with the implications of technology. I talk with Seth about all these issues, and maybe a little bit about whether it’s a good idea to block people on Twitter.

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Seth MacFarlane is a screenwriter, director, actor, producer, and singer. He is the creator of the animated TV shows Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show. He wrote, directed, and starred in the films Ted, Ted 2, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He created and stars in the live-action episodic TV show The Orville (which will be moving from Fox to Hulu for its third season). He has recorded several albums as a jazz singer, and was the host of the Academy Awards in 2013. He is an executive producer for the reboot of Cosmos. His honors include several Primetime Emmy Awards, an Annie Award, a Webby Award, a Saturn Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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