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)