Overview page for English 192: Science Fiction

Overview

Conceptual Overview
During the course of the 20th century, science fiction became one of the most popular, influential and pleasurable ways to speculate about the accelerating changes in our world. This course will offer a selective survey of science fiction, beginning with classic texts of H.G. Wells, The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, and ending with the Wachowski brothers' cyberpunk film, The Matrix. In this course we will pay special attention to these themes: alien invasion, machine intelligence and the cyborg, futures for gender, the perfection of simulation, and the issue of domination and freedom. Along the way, we will investigate how changes in 20th century media—from cheap print and bright covers, to film, radio, television and computer based new media—have helped to enable science fiction, and become a theme for analysis within science fiction. Our course will work with questions like the following: what is science fiction? from where in the history of Western narrative does science fiction come? what are its distinct pleasures? is there a special affinity between film and science fiction? does science fiction have predictive value?

This course is part of the UCSB's English Department's new curricular project entitled Transcriptions: a Digital Humanites Project on the Cultures of Information.

Class Location and Time:
Lecture location/Time: Buchanan 1910; Tues 5-6PM; Thurs 5-7PM

Required Texts and Films (see Schedule):
Books are available from the UCSB Bookstore and in the bookstore in IV.

Films\ Radioplay:
Screenings will be held Wed. 5:00PM - 7:30PM in Buchanan 1920. I will also have films available at the learning lab in Kerr Hall. Of course, you may also screen these at home.

Location: South Hall 1415; Time: Friday, 12:00-12:50PM
Focus for the section: Class members will divide into small teams and prepare web-sites that expand upon some dimension of this course's study of science fiction. Web experience is desireable but not necessary.
First meeting: Friday, April 12th.

Section Contact Information:
Please note: if a student has not appeared in their section by week 2, her or she will be dropped from the class roll.
In order to communicate with Professor Warner or your TA, please use email. Feel free to write at any time. All the instructors in this course like to know what's on your mind.