CLASS 1185 - SCI FI & THE ANCIENTS: FUTURES OF THE PAST

Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
Science fiction as a category of literature and popular culture is commonly defined by technology, futurism, and scientific modernity, and it often excludes any literature which predates modern scientific methods. This definition of science fiction as tethered to concepts of modernity, however, ignores the critical and pervasive reflections on classical antiquity throughout the development of the science fiction genre. In this course, we will analyze the history of science fiction as a literary genre and ask: How do ancient texts fit into the analytical framework of Science Fiction Studies (or do they)? What can elements of Science Fiction Studies offer to readers of classical texts? Why is classical reception so commonplace in popular science fiction, despite the common emphasis on modernity in Science Fiction Studies?
Academic Career: Undergraduate
Course Component: Lecture
Grade Component: Letter Grade

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