USSY 278 - Cognitive Estrangement: Science Fiction and Otherness

Institution:

Case Western Reserve University

Subject:

Description:

The idea of estrangement or alienation is seen as being central to science fiction; after all this is a genre that explores worlds that are different from ours. However, influential theorists of the genre have made the claim that science fiction offers ways of representing the present while appearing to be focused on the future. According to Darko Suvin's classic definition of science fiction, a tension between cognition and estrangement is built into this genre. The alien worlds of science fiction are perhaps not that strange and distant from our own, even when they seem to be on the surface. In this seminar, we will read a variety of science fiction texts in order to explore the idea of cognitive estrangement that is crucial to these narratives. We will also attempt to situate these narratives in specific historical and cultural contexts. Prereq: Passing letter grade in a 100 level first year seminar in USFS, FSSY, FSCC, FSNA, FSSO or FSCS. Prereq or Coreq: FSTS 100

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.case.edu

Phone Number:

(216) 368-2000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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