American Science Fiction in the 20th and 21st Century

elective courses

Classroom

W czasie wykładu zapoznamy się z pochodzeniem i rozwojem science fiction w Stanach Zjednoczonych w XX i XXI wieku (ale rzucimy też okiem na inne tra-dycje sf), zapoznamy się ze strategiami, dzięki którym gatunek ten jest narzędziem krytyki kulturowej oraz omówimy szereg kluczowych tekstów.

While it is still viewed by many as a marginal genre recounting merry adventures of green Martians, science fiction is, arguably, a central discourse of con-temporary culture that spans a broad range of media and forms. Its repertoire of tropes, metaphors, and scenarios makes it uniquely suited to address all aspects of our current globality: social, political, economic, and cultural problems, issues, and anxieties from crises of capitalism to social upheavals to climate change. In its narratives, science fiction has done that more consistently and comprehensively than any other contemporary genre. The course will provide a historical overview of the emergence and development of science fiction in the United States in the 20th and 21st century (with an aside look at other sf traditions), examine the ways in which the genre is a tool of cultural critique, and familiarize the students with a number of key texts.

PLEASE NOTE that although the course does not require prior knowledge of American sf, it is somewhat demanding in terms of viewing and reading. There will be some weeks with lighter viewing load but in general the course requires significant screen and reading time. Consequently, much of the time required to view series or read longer novels will NOT be counted within the usual ECTS hourly calculations. Signing up for the course means you understand this and will not expect the viewing time to count towards time class load.

Primary texts (some selections):

- Ursula LeGuin The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)

- William Gibson Neuromancer (1984)

- Paolo Bacigalupi The Windup Girl (2009)

- N.K. Jemisin The Fifth Season (2015)

- The Expanse (2015-2022)

- Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

- Andor (Season 1) (2022)

Selected secondary texts:

- Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Jr. Seven Beauties of Science Fiction (2008)

- John Rieder Colonialism and the Emergence of Science Fiction (2008)

- Sherryl Vint Science Fiction: A Guide for the Perplexed (2014)

- selections of book chapters and journal articles

Upon completing this course, a student:

1. KNOWLEDGE

• has a knowledge of American science fiction across a range of genres

• recognizes key names and texts of 20th and 21st century science fiction

• is aware of multiple contexts of American science fiction and the ways in which the genre comments on contemporary American culture

2. SKILLS

• is able to use critical tools

• is able to formulate critical arguments about American science fiction

• is able to use a range of theoretical apparatuses in analyses of individual science fiction texts

3. SOCIAL COMPETENCES

• is aware of cultural differences between American and European popular cultures

• is open to new phenomena and ideas in American popular culture

• understands and appreciates the role of popular literature in the United States

Students are expected to watch assigned movies, read assigned texts, attend classes, participate in class discussion, and write a final essay/project.

1) final paper/project

2) class participation

3) weekly activities

The final course grade is calculated using the system known as specs grading, which is fairer for students than the traditional system based on percentage brackets and allows students to monitor their progress and chances of ob-taining final grades.