Course Description
| What makes a science fiction film a science fiction film? What images, sounds, and thematic concerns are revisited over and over again in science fiction film? How have science fiction films evolved over time in response to political and social conditions while still remaining a coherent genre? These questions and more will be addressed in this course. We will begin with an introduction to some basic concepts of film theory and analysis, including the concept of “genre study.” We will then proceed to an analysis of the generic conventions of the American science fiction film. Since science fiction has traditionally been viewed as marginal—a site of engagement apart from regular culture—it has provided a relatively “safe” space for individuals to imagine alternative realities. In other words, science fiction is inherently political, reflecting, reflecting on, and even reconstructing the material world outside the frame and the screen. Thus, we will be especially interested in reading science fiction films in their social contexts from the Cold War paranoia of 1950s sci-fi to the ecological obsessions of the 1970s to the gender remodeling of the 80s to the postmodern entropy of the 1990s and beyond. The course will be reading and writing intensive, but there will be no exams. Evaluation will be based on participation, a series of quizzes, five brief response papers (usually 2 pages), and two longer essays. Have no fear, there will be ample in-class instruction in writing technique and ample opportunity to discuss your papers in draft form before they receive a grade. |
Texts | Course Requirements | Schedule
| Vivian Sobchak Screening Space: The American Science Fiction Film Annette Kuhn, ed. Alien Zone: Cultural Theory and Contemporary Science Fiction Cinema A selection
of readings on American history and sci-fi film in the "Course
Materials" Folder of the Blackboard site for this course (http://blackboard.okstate.edu)
|
Quizzes:To ensure that you are reading and comprehending course materials, there will be a series of quizzes worth 10 points each. Quizzes will constitute 10% of your course grade (100 points). While there will be more than 10 quizzes, I will only count your ten best scores. If you have one or fewer unexcused absences from class, you may include up to two additional quiz scores for extra-credit. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class, and, if you are late or absent, you will not be allowed to take the quiz. THESE ARE EASY POINTS! IT BEHOOVES YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. Response Papers: You will write five brief response papers (2 page) over the course of the semester. Consult the schedule of readings for due dates and the "Assignments" folder in blackboard for detailed instructions about each assignment. Essays: You will write 2 longer essays that ask you to apply primary and/or secondary source materials to the analysis of a science fiction film. Consult the schedule of readings for due dates and the "Assignments" folder in blackboard for detailed instructions about each assignment.
|
All materials marked with an asterisk (*) are contained in the "Course Materials" Folder on the Blackboard web site
| 8/21 | Introduction:
Basic Film Terminology and Analysis |
| 8/28
Read:
|
Defining Genre Sobchak, Chapter
1
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) |
9/4 Read: |
Technology and Science Fiction Sobchak, Chapter 2
Due: Write a 2-page analysis of the mis-en-scene for one scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey (see "Assignments" on Blackboard for details) |
9/11 Read:
Screening: |
The Sound of Science Fiction Sobchak, Chapter 3
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) & It Came From Outer Space (1953) |
9/18 Read: |
An Uncanny Home: Gender, Atomic Culture, and Postwar America *Susan Sontag,
"The Imagination of Disaster" Due: Write a one act science fiction screenplay that demonstrates your understanding of the genre conventions of the science fiction film by putting what you have learned from Sobchak into practice. (The page length for the assignment is up to you, but I suggest you not go overboard). See "Assignments" on Blackboard for details. |
9/25 Read:
|
The Cold War and Consensus Culture *Peter Biskind,
"The Mind Managers" and "Friends in High Places"
|
| 10/2 Read:
|
Re-Examining Cultural Mores: Satire in the 1960s *Margot Henricksen,
"Judgment Day: Dr. Strangelove's Cultural Revolution" Dr. Strangelove, Or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Due: Write a 2-page analysis that connects one of the primary source readings from either week 5 (9/18) or week 6 (9/25) with one of the following films: The Day the Earth Stood Still, It Came From Outer Space, or Invasion of the Body Snatchers. (see "Assignments" on Blackboard for details) |
| 10/9 Read: |
Technology, Crisis, and Post-Vietnam America *Todd Gitlin,
"1968: The Two Cultures" |
10/16 Read: |
The Threat of Woman Vivian Sobchak,
"The Virginity of Astronauts" in Kuhn, Alien Zone |
10/23 Read: Screening: |
Anxieties of a Consumer Culture Primary source materials contained in the "Course Materials" folder of Blackboard Soylent Green (1973) & Incredible Shrinking Woman (1980) |
10/30 Read:
|
Black and White in Color: Race in Sci Fi Films Eric Greene,
"Urban Riots and Ape Revolution" Due: Write a 5-7 page analysis in which you select a science fiction film from the 1970s (other than Incredible Shrinking Woman, Soylent Green, and Born in flames) and connect it to the historical events and/or trends we have discussed in class the last 4 weeks (including this week's discussion of race relations). How does the film reflect or respond to the society within which it was made? I will expect you to use one or more of the primary source materials we have read in these weeks and one or more of the secondary source materials to develop the argument.(see "Assignments" on Blackboard for details) |
11/6 Read: Screening: |
America Strikes Back: Epic Sci-Fi in The Reagan Years *Susan Jeffords,
"Life as a Man in the Reagan Revolution" Born in Flames (1984) |
11/13 Read: |
Postmodernism Sobchack, pp. 223-281 Screening (in class): Blade Runner Due: Based on your reading or Sobchak, write a 2-page definition of postmodernism as you understand the term. (see "Assignments" on Blackboard for details) |
11/20 Read: Optional:
|
Postmodernism II Sobchak, pp. 281-305 Scott Bukatman, "Who Programs You? The Science Fiction of Spectacle" in Kuhn, Alien Zone (recommended for those who wish to discuss special effects, CGI graphics or digital editing in your papers). Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) |
| 11/27 | Thanksgiving--No Class Due: 2-page analysis that responds to the following question: Do you agree or disagree with Sobchak's analysis of Close Encounters of the Third Kind as a Postmodern Film, why or why not? (see "Assignments" on Blackboard for details) Note: You may submit this assignment any time before 5 p.m. on Friday 11/28. You must, however, submit it electronically (as an email attachment) or by hand to my Mailbox in MCB 2403. |
12/4
|
Class Canceled for Conferences on Essay 2: Conferences are required and will be held in my office MCB 2221. Bring with you a draft of Essay 2 consisting of at least 4 pages and a bibliography of potential source materials, including citations for your two outside sources. I WILL NOT ACCEPT YOUR ESSAYS FOR GRADING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET WITH ME FOR A COMFERENCE, SO DO NOT SKIP YOUR APPOINTMENT! |
12/11
Screening: |
Due: Write a 7-10 page analysis on one of the topics listed in the "Assignments" folder of Blackboard. Note: You may submit this essay at Thursday's screening of Gattaca, electronically by 5 p.m. on Thursday 12/11, or by hand to my mailbox in MCB 2403 by 5 p.m. 12/11. Gattaca (1997) |