Politics of Science Fiction: Imagine, if you will, an ordinary street in an ordinary American town. Until, that is, some of its inhabitants begin to suspect that one of their neighbors is not what they seem. They may be, instead… an alien from outer space. Or perhaps it’s the mid-24th century, and humankind has solved world hunger, ended their petty political squabbles, and ventured out amongst the stars. Or, scratch that, and you find yourself in an alternate future in which the Cuban Missile Crisis marked the beginning of World War III, and what’s left of humanity is still reckoning with the effects of nuclear fallout. The universe of science fiction is awash in scenes much like these. In this course, we will consider how science fiction represents not just interesting or scary or kooky imaginings of the future, but instead reflect a multitude of attempts to grapple with the very real, important, and sometimes intractable political problems and aspirations of the here and now (or there and then.) We will explore science fiction as a tool to reimagine political systems and institutions, provide insight into the interconnectedness of politics and identity, and explore the paths not taken at critical junctures in political history.
- Teacher: Katti McNally