This course provides instruction in the genre of science fiction as a literary type and will provide instruction in analysis of short stories, novels, and films from within the genre of science fiction. The course will range from the beginnings of science fiction through the present. Emphasis is placed on historical and current use of science fiction to address social, cultural, and political issues, and will focus on the ways in which the genre facilitates discussion of social problems and relevant social issues.
Quarters Offered
Winter
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Demonstrate understanding of major themes of the science fiction genre.
- Explain how individual works of science fiction reflect or question the values of the culture that produced them.
- Write in a way that demonstrates their recognition of science fiction as a form of literature.
- Explain connections between science fiction texts and social criticism or cultural commentary.
- Articulate reasons why SF is comparable to other literary forms.
- Advocate for specific readings of implied textual meanings in a text such as allegory, symbolism and allusion.
- Improve analytical and rhetorical skills through discussing and writing about literature.
- Write, both formally and informally, in a way that demonstrates the ability to apply critical thinking skills to texts.
- Explain ways in which science fiction as a genre functions as a lens into culture and society.
Institutional Outcomes
IO3 Human Relations/Workplace Skills: Students will be able to demonstrate teamwork, ethics, appropriate safety awareness and/or workplace specific skills.
Course Content Outline
- Explain characteristics of science fiction as a literary genre
- Introduce characteristics and merits of traditional SF texts which are an established part of the literary canon
- Compare SF with other literary genres that are more central to the literary canon
- Explain vocabulary and techniques associated with in-depth literary analysis, both in genera, and as related to science fiction.
- Explain sub-genres such as “pure” SF as compared to “social” SF
- Analyze and discuss a range of texts which demonstrate the complexity and sophistication of contemporary SF
- Compare and contrast SF from different eras, establishing a sense of archetypes within the genre
- Apply generalized themes and principles to specific texts in written essays.
Department Guidelines
- While the use of films is encouraged, at least 75% of the assignments should focus on written texts.
- Course may be taught as a “theme course”; focusing on a specific focus of multiple works, for example, dystopian science fiction, utopian science fiction, science fiction as political allegory, xenofiction, etc.
- Science fiction, for the purposes of this class, is defined as: “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.” Students must be able to see how science functions as a central, repeated theme in the text.
- Course may be taught online, but online sections must include extensive interaction and discussion between individual students, and between instructor and students.
PO4 should be assessed: Students will be able to recognize or articulate personal/interpersonal aspects of, or connections between, diverse cultural, social, or political contexts.
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.