Hauptseminar Out of This World The Case of Science Fiction

-We live in a science-fiction world”, claims a 2011 British Library exhibition catalogue. While this is perhaps debatable, there is little doubt that science fiction is extremely successful as a genre, and that its influence on popular culture is enormous. Strangely enough, while science fiction studies have become fairly well established in an academic context over the past twenty or thirty years, popular opinion still widely perceives science fiction as an inferior genre. It supposedly is hardly ‘literary’ at all in aesthetic terms, and is considered to be of little relevance for the discussion of contemporary issues: instead it offers a self-indulgent escape from the problems of the real word. The aim of this course is not to provide a comprehensive history of science fiction but to read and analyse exemplary sf novels, questioning popular misconceptions about literary merit and relevance. We will examine a number of novels, ranging from the second half of the 20th century until today. We will also read and discuss a number of theoretical and secondary texts; additional material will be provided in the course of the seminar. We will read the novels in chronological order. Students are expected to have read Heinlein’s novel prior to the first session. There may be a short quiz to test your knowledge of the text. Attendance of the first session is absolutely mandatory. The following novels will form the core texts of the seminar and should be obtained if you wish to participate. Atwood, Margaret. Oryx and Crake. 2003. London: Little, Brown, 2004. Print. Banks, Iain M. Consider Phlebas. 1987. London: Orbit, 2003. Print. Heinlein, Robert A. Starship Troopers. 1959. New York, NY: Ace, 2006. Print. LeGuin, Ursula. The Left Hand of Darkness. 1969. London: Orbit, 2010. Print. Miéville, China. Embassytown. London: Macmillan, 2011. Print. Voraussetzungen Successful completion of your Aufbaumodul in literary studies. Please consult your Modulhandbuch for details. Leistungsnachweis Graduate research paper, thorough preparation of set texts and regular and active participation. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik Successful completion of your Aufbaumodul in literary studies. Please consult your Modulhandbuch for details. Graduate research paper, thorough preparation of set texts and regular and active participation. Uni Kassel SoSe 2013 Amerikanistik English and American Studies Dr. Degenring Folkert