FRS 177 - Myth and Science Fiction

Institution:

Centre College

Subject:

Description:

In many ways science fiction bears such a resemblance to the mythologies of ancient cultures that one can almost describe it as modern mythology. In this course we examine in detail myths of ancient Greece and other cultures and observe how themes, motifs, character types, and narrative patterns in these ancient myths influence modern science fiction stories, defining "science fiction" very broadly to include, for example, fantasy. Source material includes films, television shows, novels, short stories, and other media. We will see, for instance, how the hero journey as rendered in the myth of Perseus can be traced in the story of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga. Along the way we will discover that myth is in fact not such an ancient concept but exists in our own culture and responds to many of the same needs today as it did in the centuries long past.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.centre.edu

Phone Number:

(859) 238-5200

Regional Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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