Global Science Fiction

T. Gravestock
T. Gravestock, used with permission from Refocus-Now

ENLT 378: Global Science Fiction
Spring 2006; MR 2:30-3:45
Mondays & Thursdays in UN 2046
 <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/scifi.html>                                                                                                
<http://english.montclair.edu/>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 324
nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu
Office Hours:
M 1-2:30; R 10:00-11:30; and by appt.
 
Course description:

This course is about international science fiction and genre-defining works from across the globe, making this an excellent class for first-time sci-fi readers and enthusiasts alike. We will focus on those qualities that distinguish science fiction (“fiction of the future that speculates and extrapolates from the physical and social sciences”) and its history. Discussion topics include utopias/dystopias, the limits of being human, gender relations, and the uncanny. Reading ranges from novels and/or novellas such as Hoffmann, Zamyatin, Huxley, and one of their cyberpunk predecessors (Gibson, Stephenson); short stories by Margaret Atwood, Haruki Murakami, and Philip K. Dick (of Minority Report and Total Recall fame); and polemical texts (Freud, Asimov).  Multinational literature

Required Texts available at University Bookstore:
In order to save you money on extra books of which you'd only be reading a small portion, electronic texts are available as pdf files on Blackboard <http://montclair.blackboard.com> (please bring hard copies or laptops to class). You might need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader, and if you don't have a high-speed connection at home, I suggest you download and print these texts at school. Alternatively, most of these items are also available on Library Reserves, where you can make your own copies in the library:
Requirements--Respect, Collegiality, Integrity, and:
Policies:
Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/scifi.html>
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