Henry Jenkins
14N-437
253-3068
henry3@mit.edu
Office Hours, T, TH 10-11, 12:30-1, and by appointment
This course examines science fiction as a genre of popular fictions which proposes
alternative ways of conceptualizing the intersections between technology, science, media,
culture, and society. This course frames major movements in contemporary science fiction
in relation to the genre’s larger history, starting with a historical overview which
links science fiction’s representations of the future with changing conceptions of
American culture. We will then examine some themes within science fiction (Alien cultures,
Man and Machine, Inner Space, and Time Travel), juxtaposing contemporary and classical
works. We will also examine parallel developments in film and television and in other
forms of popular culture. Among the writers we will study are Robert Heinlein, Octavia
Butler, Vernor Vinge, Orson Scott Card, Nancy Kress, Nicola Griffith, Bruce Sterling,
Cordwainer Smith, and many others. Media texts will include Aliens, Day the
Earth Stood Still, Contact,Strange Days, The X Files, Star
Trek, and Babylon 5. A distinctive feature of the course this term will be
visits from several distinguished science fiction writers.
Texts:
Books: Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers
Octavia Butler, Kindred (Beacon, 1988)
Vernor Vinge, A Fire Upon the Deep (Tor, 1992)
Nicola Griffith, Ammonite (Del Rey, 1992)
Sarah Zettel, Fool's War (Aspect, 1997)
Bruce Sterling, Globalhead (Spectra, 1994)
Neal Stephenson, The Diamond Age (Bantam, 1995)
Greg Egan, Permutation City (Harper Prism, 1994)
Nancy Kress, Beggars in Spain (Avon, 1994)
Greg Bear, Blood Music (Ace, 1996)
Orson Scott Card, Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus (Tor, 1997)
Richard Garfinkle, Celestial Matters (Tor, 1996)
Kurt Busiek, Astro City: Life in the Big City (Aegis, 1996)
Additional readings (short stories) are placed on reserve in the
Reserve Book Room on the ground floor of bldg. 14.
PART ONE: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
T F 3 The Origins of American Science Fiction
Th F 5 The Legacy of Technological Utopianism Read:
John W. Campbell, "Twilight;" Stanley G. Weinbaum, "A Martian
Odyssey;" Amelia Reynolds Long, "Omega" (60 pages)
M F 9 From WWII to the Vietnam Era Read:
Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers; Norman Spinrad, "The Big Flash";
Harlan
Ellison, "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream";
Samuel R.
Delany, "Aye, and Gomorrah...." (49 pages)
T F 10 (In class): Day the
Earth Stood Still
Th F 12 In Class Discussion: Day the Earth Stood Still Read:
Selected Short Stories
T F 17* (In class) Lab: A Clockwork Orange
(followed by discussion)
Th F 19 The State of Contemporary Science Fiction
Guest
Lecturers: Octavia Butler/ Samuel R. Delany Read:
Octavia Butler, Kindred
PART TWO: ALIEN CULTURES, ALIEN IDENTITIES
M F 23 Lab: Red
Nightmare; Invasion of the Body Snatchers (followed by discussion)
T F 24 Changing Conceptions of the Alien Read: Frederic Brown, "Arena"; Jose Philip Farmer, "My Sister's
Brother" (80)
Th F 26 The Alien in Contemporary Science Fiction Read: Vernor Vinge, A Fire Upon the Deep
M M 2 Lab: Aliens (followed by
discussion)
T M 3 Gender, Culture, Community Read:
Lois McMaster Bujold, "The Mountains of Mourning";
Mike
Resnick,""Krinyaga" (105)
Th M 5 Myths of Identity Read:
Nicola Griffith, Ammonite
PART THREE: ROBOTS, CYBORGS, AND THE INFORMATION SOCIETY
M M 9 Lab:Outer Limits; Star Trek: The
Next Generation (Followed by Discussion)
T M 10 Lecture, tba Read:
Sarah Zettel, Fool’s Gold
Th M 12 The Robot in Classical Science Fiction Read:
C.L. Moore, "No Woman Born"; Isaac Asimov, "Satisfaction Guaranteed";
Alfred Bester, "Fondly Fahrenheit" (78 pages)
M M 16 Lab: Blade Runner (followed by Discussion)
T M 17 The Case of Cordwainer Smith Read:
"Scanners Live in Vain," "The Dead Lady of Clown Town,"
"A Planet Named Shayol" (124 pages)
Th M 19 Cyberpunk and Beyond Read:
Bruce Sterling, Globalhead (selections)
Guest
Lecturer: Bruce Sterling
M M 30 Lab: Max Headroom (followed by discussion)
T M 31 Lecture, tba
Neil
Stephenson, The Diamond Age
TH A 2 Mediated Realities Read:
Frederic Pohl, "Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus";
Lewis
Padgett, "Mimsy Were the Borogoves"; Clifford Simak, "The Huddling
Place"; Kate Wilhelm, "Baby, You Were Great." (97 pages)
M A 6 Lab: Strange Days (followed by discussion)
T A 7 Lecture, tba Read:
Greg Egan, Permutation City
Th A 9 The Media and Everyday Life Read:
Allen Steele, "Lost in the Shopping Mall;" Alex Jablakov, "Living
Will";
James
Patrick Kelly, "Itsy Bitsy Spider;" Joe Haldeman, "Feedback" (79
pages)
PART FOUR: OUR BODIES, OURSELVES
M A 13 Lab: 12 Monkeys (followed by discussion)
Tu A 14 Transforming the Body Read:
James Patrick Kelly, "Mr. Boy;" John Varley; "Tar Baby and the
Lollipop."(72)
Th A 16 Guest Lecturer: Nancy Kress Read:
Nancy Kress, Beggars in Spain
Th A 23 Greg Bear, Blood Music
PART FIVE: SCIENCE FICTION AS HISTORICAL FICTION
M A 27 Lab: Contact (followed by Discussion)
T Ap 28 Time Travel Read:
Bruce Sterling, "Mozart in Mirrorshade" (16 pages)
Th A 30 Lecture, tba Read:
Orson Scott Card, Timewatch
M M 4 Lab:Babylon 5; The X-Files (followed by discussion)
T M 5 Lecture, tba Read:
Richard Garfinkle, Celestial Matters
TH M 7 Alternative Histories Read:
Allen Steele, "Goddard’s People," "John Harper Wilson,";
Howard Waldrop, "The World, As We Know It" (54 pages)
M M 11 Lab: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (followed by discussion)
T M 12 Playing with Popular Culture Read:
Roger Zelazny, "The Sleeper"; Walter Jon Williams, "Witness";
Larry
Niven, "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" (99 pages)
TH M 14 Astro City