Science Fiction and American Culture Syllabus (fall 2023)
Major Assignments
Canvas Access
August 21: Introduction to to “Science Fiction and American Culture”
Isaac Asimov’s “Cult of Ignorance” (1980)
August 23: More Introduction
August 28: Gender Studies and Science Fiction
August 30: Isaac Asimov’s “Reason”
Robert Heinlein’s “All You Zombies–“
September 4: Labor Day—No Class Meeting
September 6: Worlds Beyond
Weinbaum, Stanley. “A Martian Odyssey” online
Delany, Samuel R. “Aye, and Gomorrah.” online
Delany, Samuel R. “Racism and Science Fiction” online
September 11: Gibson, William. Preface by Bruce Sterling in Burning Chrome. pp. xi-xviii
Gibson, William. “Johnny Mnemonic” in Burning Chrome. pp. 1-23
September 13: Gibson, William. “New Rose Hotel” in Burning Chrome. pp. 109-123
Gibson, William. “Burning Chrome” in Burning Chrome. pp. 179-204
September 18: Film—No Class Meeting
The Wachowskis. The Matrix (1999)
September 20: Film—No Class Meeting
Iain Softley’s Hackers (1995)…this version has Greek subtitles
ESSAY #1 Due on Canvas on 9/21, 11:00pm
September 25: TV Shows—No Class Meeting
Firefly “Jaynestown” (2002) Season 1, Episode 4—poor quality stream
Black Mirror “Fifteen Million Merits” (2011) Season 1, Episode 2
September 27: Wells, Martha. All Systems Red.
October 2: MIDTERM EXAM—No Class Meeting
Exam is on Canvas
October 4: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One.
October 9: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One.
October 11: Whitehead, Colson. Zone One.
October 16: Delany, Samuel R. Babel-17, Parts I & II
October 18: Delany, Samuel R. Babel-17, Parts III, IV & V
October 23: FALL BREAK–No Classes
October 25: Film—No Class Meeting
Nolan, Christopher. Inception
October 30: Film—No Class Meeting
Nolan, Christopher. Interstellar
November 1: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (catch up)
November 6: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (Parts I and II)
November 8: Butler, Octavia. Dawn (Part III and IV)
November 13: LeGuin, Ursula. The Dispossessed (Part I)
November 15: LeGuin, Ursula. The Dispossessed (Part II)
ESSAY #2 Due on Canvas on Friday, 11/17, 11:00pm
November 20: TV Shows—No Class Meeting
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}
November 23-26: Thanksgiving Break
November 27: Film—No Class Meeting
Wall⋅E (2008)
Watch this Video: What happens to all that trash you produce? (required viewing)
November 29: More on Wall⋅E (2008) and trash
December 4: Witch Hunt Politics (Part I)
December 6: Witch Hunt Politics (Part II)
December 13: Final Exam on Canvas