Science Fiction

Catalog description

This course is designed to introduce students to science fiction, its major themes and preoccupations, as well as some of its significant authors and genres. It has been argued that science fiction or “speculative” fiction represents a viable way to make sense of our everyday world. Our primary focus, therefore, will be on how these texts--written and visual--help us understand our culture and ourselves through encounters with alien and unfamiliar worlds, species, and technology. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to critically engage with science fiction, and to identify its broad cultural impact. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Disciplinary Perspectives element of the CLAS general education curriculum.