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Constructing Identity via the Lens of Science Fiction:
Art, History, and Politics
GAB 214
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Instructor Information
Dr. Scout Blum, Associate Professor of History sblum@troy.edu, (334-670-5663)
Professor Sara Dismukes, Assistant Professor of Art and Design, sdismukes@troy.edu (334-670-5737)
Dr. Steven L. Taylor, Associate Professor of Political Science, sltaylor@troy.edu (334-670-3759)
Purpose/Goals
An inter-disciplinary (History, Art and Political Science) examination of questions like: Who are we? Why do we think we are who we are, and how do we view one another? How do these views matter?
Required Readings
Moore, Alan and Dave Gibbons. 1986. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics.
Robinson, Kim Stanley. 1993. Red Mars. New York: Bantam Books.
Additional readings as handouts/or via online distribution.
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the following link: http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm.
Academic Honesty
As with all Troy courses, the expectation is that all students will conduct themselves with the highest standard of integrity in their coursework. Anything less will be in conflict with the standards laid out in university policy and will result in disciplinary penalties.
Grading
Weekly Participation (blog/discussion board format)
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20%
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In-class Participation
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10%
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Individual Presentations (two based on list of optional readings/media)
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30%
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Final Group Project
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40%
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Contract/Design
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Final Project
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Course Schedule
8/12: Introduction and Overview
Unit I: Who Are We?
A. The Other (8/19, 8/26)
Readings: History: primary documents regarding Japanese American internment during World War II
Political Science Reading: Parfit, Derek. 1971. "Personal Identity." The Philosophical Review. 80,1 (January): 3-27. (Available via JSTOR)
Images from Blade Runner
here
Science Fiction Reading:
Movie/TV: Blade Runner
BSG: "Flesh and Bone" (from Season 1)
B. Gender (9/2, 9/9)
Readings: History: Excerpts from Death of Nature, Carolyn Merchant
Political Science Reading: Selection from Mary Wollstonecraft
Movie/TV: ST:TOS "The Turnabout Intruder"; ST:TNG "The Outcast"
Unit II: The Individual v. the Collective
A. The Needs of the Many, or the One? (9/16, 9/23)
Readings: History: primary documents regarding the Second Red Scare - excerpts from congressional hearings (1950) and Masters of Deceipt, J. Edgar Hoover (1958)
Art: possibilities include
Science Fiction Reading: "Harrison Bergeron," Kurt Vonnegut
Movie/TV: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, B5: "Deathwalker"
B. Man and Superman (9/30, 10/7)
Readings: History: primary documents regarding the construction of a proslavery argument - excerpts from George Fitzhugh, Hammond
Political Science:
selections from Plato's Republic and Nietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil: excerpt.
Art: possibilities include
Science Fiction Readings: Watchmen
Movie/TV: Matrix
Unit III: Constructing Our World
A. Utopia (10/14, 10/21)
Readings: History: primary documents relating to the Puritans early encounters with America; and views of the American West
Political Science:
More, Thomas. Utopia: excerpt. More Marx? Something on Manifest Destiny/American exceptionalism?
Art: possibilities include
Science Fiction Readings: Red Mars should be finished by the start of this unit; "iCity," Paul Di Filippo
Movie/TV: Roden Crater show; Star Trek, Wall-E
B. Dystopia (10/28, 11/4)
Readings: History: rise of the New Left/1960s environmentalism
Science Fiction Readings: Red Mars should be finished by the start of this unit; “iCity,” Paul Di Filippo
Movie/TV: Children of Men
11/11 Happy Veterans' Day
11/18 Project Presentations
11/25 Happy Thanksgiving