Technology Articles

For those who are interested here are a couple of great (and really long !) articles about the consequences of technological progress.

"Why the future does not need us" by Bill Joy

"One-Half of a Manifesto" by Jaron Lanier

"The Rise of the Machines" by Richard Dooling

"Will man made robots rise up and demand their rights" by Rodney Brooks

Assignment for Monday 1/12

1) Blog on Blade Runner

2) Comment on at least 2 other blogs.

3) Add images AS PHOTOSHOP layers to student share.

Assignment for Friday 1/9

Write a journal entry as usual and comment on at least two posts.

AND

Go to the "Jana" file in student share and create a file that has your images in photo-shop.

Assignments

Monday 1/5 - Frankenstein - Post one blog entry and four images related to the film.

For all blog posts, base your response on the journal prompts found on the syllabus.


Tuesday 1/6 -

The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Thing - Post one blog entry and four images related to a film or your choice OR post one blog entry that compares the two and four images (two from each film).

AND

Read at least four blogs from the class and check out the images. Comment on at least two of them. Do you agree or disagree with the post? Why? What questions, themes, issues, etc... are raised by the post? How might this post or image inspire a multia-media display.

Wed 1/7 - 2001: A Space Odyssey

Post one blog entry for this movie. Use the journal prompts as a guide.

AND

Read at least four blogs, check out the images, and comment on two of them. See the above questions for guidance if you need it.

Thursday 1/8 - Planet of the Apes

Post one blog entry for this movie. Use the journal prompts as a guide.

AND

Read at least four blogs, check out the images, and comment on two of them. See the above questions for guidance if you need it.

Syllabus and Schedule

Intersession 2009:

Visions of the Present: Science Fiction Films in American Culture

Course Description: This course will include classic science fiction films from the 1930s to the present. Students will gain an appreciation for the historical and cultural significance of the science fiction genre. The class will focus on the how these films consider the unintended consequences of technological “progress,” and how they represent the fears and desires of the present by presenting utopian or dystopian visions of the future. Class time will consist of student presentations, film viewing, discussion, and project time. The final project will be a multi-media presentation done in conjunction with Blair Hatch’s multi-media class.

Students will be required to have their parents sign permission slips for R-rated films.

Course Requirements: At the conclusion of the course, students will earn a pass/fail mark. Letter grades will not be given. In order to earn a passing grade, students must do the following:

1. Be a good classroom citizen by treating oneself, classmates, teachers, and property with respect.

2. Have good attendance - per school policy, any student missing two days of intersession will fail the class. Additionally, students must be in class on time, including after lunch.

3. Read all handouts and keep them in a class folder.

4. Keep a notebook that includes a film journal. Student blogs might be used in lieu of this, depending on available resources. If blogs are used students will be required to comment on class postings.

5. Give presentations on various topics.

6. Successful completion of a multi-media product. Every student MUST provide a CD/DVD copy of their multi-media project to get a passing grade.

Themes:

1. The consequences of technology and “progress”

2. Utopia/Dystopia and history

3. Man and Machine

Guiding Questions:

1 Does technology improve things or make them worse? What is progress? What are the

(unintended) consequences of “progress”?

2. How do representations of the future reflect historical circumstances and/or universal

themes? Why are some visions of the future pessimistic and others optimistic?

3. What makes us human? What is the difference between man and machine?

Film Schedule

Week One

Monday 1/5 – Frankenstein (1931)

Tuesday 1/6 – The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Wednesday 1/7 – 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Thursday 1/8 – Planet of the Apes (1968)

Friday 1/9 – Soylent Green (1973)

Week Two

Monday 1/12 – Blade Runner (1982)

Tuesday 1/13 - Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001)

Wednesday 1/14 – Brazil (1985)

Thursday 1/15 – The Matrix (1999)

Friday 1/16 – Open (Projects Due)

Student Blogs

Students: Please post your blog html here. Hopefully we can later set up a class RSS feed.