Although long-derided as genre fiction, pulp, or simple entertainment, analyzing science fiction film and television can yield important clues about shared social anxieties and hopes. In this class, we will critically evaluate utopian and dystopian visual science fiction and fantasy through various lenses including: aesthetics, industrial concerns, politics, gender, and genre. We will screen various examples of science fiction and fantasy film and television (such as Metropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Avatar, Battlestar Galactica, and Lord of the Rings) and also discuss the use of science fiction and fantasy in video games. Required weekly screenings.
Distribution Area
Students entering prior to Fall 2024: Humanities (HU DIST)