Date
|
Topic
|
Readings/assignments
due
|
|
Unit
I: What is Science Fiction?
|
|
1. R
1/19
|
Course
+ student introduction; SF vs. Fantasy; Asimov on SF definitions; Why read
Sci Fi? SF cover art
|
See
cell below for Mon.'s h.w. |
2. M
1/23
|
Review;
1960's
SF Magazines and Renaissance; Why read Sci Fi? (II) Short Essay: What
is SF? assigned
|
Texts
on Blackboard (Bb) and
on Library Reserves: Asimov, "The Influence of Sci Fi;" (asimov.pdf); Ellison,
"Intro." (ellison.pdf); del Rey, "Evensong;" Silverberg, "Flies;"
Anderson, "Eutopia"; U. K. Le Guin, "Myth and Archetype in SF"
(myth.pdf)
|
3. R
1/26
|
P. K. Dick Bio;
Religion
and SF; Student Ques.
|
From P.
K. Dick Reader:
"Fair Game" and "The Hanging Stranger" (1-25); "The Turning Wheel"
(57-73); Bring 3 discussion questions to class (will be collected)
|
4. M
1/30
|
Review; Hugo Award; Nebula Award;
Bacon Bio;
Ur-texts
of SF: New
Atlantis (1627) |
On Bb:
Francis
Bacon, New Atlantis (bacon.pdf)
|
5. R
2/2
|
Review; Hoffmann
Bio; Ur-texts
II: The Sandman (1815/16);
German
orig.
|
On Bb:
E. T.
A. Hoffmann (hoffmann.pdf); Bring 3 discussion questions to
class |
6. M
2/6
|
Review; Freud
on The Sandman and the Uncanny |
On Bb:
Freud, "The Uncanny" (uncanny.pdf); from P. K. Dick Reader:
"The Eyes Have It" (27-29); Bring Hoffmann to class too |
7. R
2/9
|
Review; Student Questions; 1954; The
Uncanny in P. K. Dick; Screenwriting
|
From
P. K. Dick Reader: "The Golden Man" (29-56); "The Father Thing" (101-110);
"Sales Pitch" (175-87); Bring 3 discussion questions to
class |
8. M
2/13
|
Review; Ursula K. Le Guin Bio;
Women
of SF
|
On Bb:
Margaret Atwood, "Homelanding" Ursula K. Le Guin, "The New Atlantis"
(wscifi.pdf); Le Guin, "American SF and the Other," "Intro. to Left
Hand of Darkness" (leguin.pdf)j; Bring Bacon to class too
|
9. R
2/16
|
Video:
Star Trek episode(s)
|
Post
rough draft of Short Essay to Bb/Discussion and/or bring copy to class
|
10. M
2/20
|
Sci Fi
on film
|
Final
draft of Short Essay due
|
|
Unit
II: Utopia / Dystopia |
|
11. R
2/23
|
Utopias
and Dystopias in Literature |
Zamyatin
1-44 |
12. M
2/27
|
We; Student Questions |
Zamyatin
45-91; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
13. R
3/2
|
We;
Group Disc. |
Zamyatin
92-139 |
14. M
3/6
|
Review; Student Ques: We; Revolution
|
Zamyatin
140-86; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
15. R
3/9
|
Review; We |
Zamyatin
187-232
|
16. M
3/20
|
Brave
New World;
Group Discussion |
Huxley
vii-56; 261-64
|
17. R
3/23
|
Review; Brave
New World; Student Questions |
Huxley
57-106; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
18. M
3/27
|
Review; Brave
New World; Group Disc. |
Huxley
107-52 |
19. R
3/30
|
Blackboard: Discussion
(Summer Reading); Brave
New World; Shakespeare, "The
Phoenix and the Turtle" |
Huxley
153-207; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
20. M
4/3
|
Brave
New World; Review
for midterm |
Huxley
208-59 |
21. R
4/6
|
Midterm
-- no make-up day for the midterm -- miss it and be out of luck!!!!
|
Prepare
for Midterm; bring Zamyatin and Huxley to class |
|
Unit
III: Robotics and Cyberpunk |
|
22. M
4/10
|
Intro.
to Cyberpunk; David Brin on SF;
midterms returned |
H. Murakami, "TV
People;" W. Gibson, "Burning Chrome"
|
23. R
4/13
|
Review; Neal
Stephenson & Cyberpunk; The Onion on
SF
|
Stephenson,
1-77 |
24. M
4/17
|
Student
Ques. Diamond
Age
|
Stephenson,
78-161; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
25. R
4/20
|
Review; Diamond
Age
|
Stephenson,
161-243 |
26. M
4/24
|
Review; Diamond
Age |
Stephenson,
243-335; Bring 3
discussion questions to
class |
27. R
4/27
|
Review; Diamond
Age; Reminder: Summer Reading List Disc. on Blackboard |
Stephenson,
335-408
|
28. M
5/1
|
Diamond
Age; Review for Final;
What we missed: a Summer
Reading List |
Stephenson,
408-499; Participation
Portfolio (incl. discussion
questions and
revised in-class writings) due--Optional |
Finals
Week
|
Sorry,
no office hours during finals week
|
Final
Exam Thursday May 4, 1-3 pm
|