8

A question about the show Dexter has been asked that essentially questions whether there is a sci-fi/fantasy element to a show generally regarded as "regular" fiction.

Is this appropriate for this site? If the answer to the Dexter question is "no", then the show is clearly not on topic for our site, and should be closed. However, we should be able to determine if the question itself is on-topic, without relying upon the answer for the decision.

1
  • One thing that complicates Dexter is that the book series—but not the TV series (yet?)—gets way into the fantasy territory starting with Dexter in the Dark.
    – user366
    Dec 28, 2011 at 7:24

3 Answers 3

8

I believe that the question is off topic.

Genre is generally pretty obvious, and having one single aspect of a work that can create suspicion of the work actually belonging to the sci-fi/fantasy genre when it is generally categorized otherwise is insufficent.

That being said, it is not outside the realm of possibility for such a work to have a late reveal that changes the genre.

Dexter could show a new episode that makes quite clear that the "ghost" of Harry Morgan is, in fact, a manifestation of the spirit of Dexter's father, and not simply a device to represent some aspect of Dexter's internal thought processes. If that were to happen, then questions about Dexter would be on-topic, but not until that canon episode making the transition was revealed.

3
4

I believe it is off-topic on Sci-Fi SE, but perhaps it's on-topic on META site?

1
  • This is my preferred answer. The meta site is okay to ask if it is on topic, but we've previously said these questions are off topic. Dec 29, 2011 at 16:07
2

As the asker of the questionable question, my opinion is of course that the question is on topic; as determining wether or not a given series is relevant to the site or not must be possible to determine within the framework of the site itself, but of course, I do realize there's a conflict of interest here.

3
  • We've always considered sf-nal elements of non-sf works on-topic, as well as non-sf elements of sf works (for a reasonable definition of sf). I think this is the relevant discussion. So the answer to the larger question is yes.
    – user56
    Dec 27, 2011 at 19:13
  • Duly noted, and edit removed. Dec 27, 2011 at 19:19
  • @Gilles Thanks for linking that discussion. Based on item 5 of your answer, this seems pretty clearly on-topic.
    – Beofett
    Dec 27, 2011 at 19:23

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .