Science Fiction and American Culture Syllabus (spring 2025)
Major Assignments on Canvas
January 14: Introduction to to “Science Fiction and American Culture”
January 16: More Introduction
Isaac Asimov’s “Cult of Ignorance” (1980)
January 21: Robots and Zombies
Isaac Asimov’s “Reason”
Robert Heinlein’s “All You Zombies–“
January 23: Gender Studies and Science Fiction
January 28: American Studies Introduction
Jefferson, Thomas et. al. “The Declaration of Independence,” 4 July 1776.
Federalist Paper 10
January 30: Worlds Beyond
Weinbaum, Stanley. “A Martian Odyssey” online
Delany, Samuel R. “Aye, and Gomorrah.” online
Delany, Samuel R. “Racism and Science Fiction” online
February 4: Writing Discussion: Ideas and Arguments
February 6: William Gibson, Part I
Gibson, William. Preface by Bruce Sterling in Burning Chrome. pp. xi-xviii
Gibson, William. “Johnny Mnemonic” in Burning Chrome. pp. 1-23
February 11: William Gibson, Part II
Gibson, William. “New Rose Hotel” in Burning Chrome. pp. 109-123
Gibson, William. “Burning Chrome” in Burning Chrome. pp. 179-204
February 13: No Class Meeting
ESSAY #1 Due on Canvas on 2/13, 11:00pm
February 18: Use Your Illusion I
The Wachowskis. The Matrix (1999)
Nelson, Ray. “Eight O’Clock in the Morning” (1963)
February 20: Use Your Illusion II
Iain Softley. Hackers (1995)…Tubi has it for free
February 25: Firefly & Black Mirror
Firefly “Jaynestown” (2002) Season 1, Episode 4—poor quality stream
Black Mirror “Fifteen Million Merits” (2011) Season 1, Episode 2
February 27: MIDTERM EXAM—No Class Meeting
Exam is on Canvas
Plan your reading of Martha Wells’s All Systems Red and Colson Whitehead’s Zone One.
Spring Break: March 3rd – 7th
March 11: Wells, Martha. All Systems Red
March 13: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One, “Friday,” pp. 1-128
March 18: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One, “Saturday,” pp. 129-271
March 20: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One, “Sunday,” pp. 275-end
March 25: Writing Discussion: Synthesizing sources; writing better
March 27: Film—No Class Meeting
Nolan, Christopher. Inception
April 1: Film—No Class Meeting
Nolan, Christopher. Interstellar
April 3: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (catch up)
ESSAY #2 Due on Canvas, 11:00pm
April 8: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (Parts I and II)
April 10: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (Part III and IV)
April 15: LeGuin, Ursula. The Dispossessed (Part I)
April 17: LeGuin, Ursula. The Dispossessed (Part II)
April 22: TV Shows
Star Trek: The Next Generation, “The Measure of a Man” (1989)—S2, Ep9
The Twilight Zone, “Eye of the Beholder” (1960)—S2, Ep6
Paramount+ {start free trial}
April 24: Witch Hunt Politics (Part I)
April 29: Witch Hunt Politics (Part II)
May 1: READING DAY—No Classes
May 6: Final Exam on Canvas