MDST 3559/ENMC 3559 (Class schedule # 34352)
University of Virginia
Fall 2009
MW 2:00-3:15pm :: 111 Monroe
Mr. David Golumbia
Office: 449 New Cabell Hall
Fall 2009 Office Hours: MW 12:30-1:45pm

Hard Science Fiction

Contemporary film, television, digital and written examples of the genre, one based on the premise that it is constructed from "plausible" science. This class will ask whether such an idea is itself plausible, while reading a variety of texts closely in cultural and formal terms. Our primary focus as always will be the texts themselves, but we will look for patterns and themes in the works as we analyze them. In two cases we will watch texts be transformed from novel to film (Stalker) and from novel to film to film (Solaris). The course will be taught primarily via discussion. Presentations, short papers, and a longer final paper. One prior class in English, Media Studies, Comparative Literature, or an appropriate topic in another discipline, or permission of instructor. Open to third years and above, or by permission.

Texts

• Stanislaw Lem, Solaris (at UVa bookstore; any used edition is fine)
• David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer, eds., The Hard SF Renaissance (Orb Books, 2003; at UVa bookstore; used versions are fine)
• Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Roadside Picnic (Russia, 1972; out of print; used editions are fine, and there is a PDF of a different translation in Collab)
  

Films (on reserve at Robertson Media Center)

• Paul W.S. Anderson, dir., Event Horizon (1997)
• James Cameron, dir., Aliens (1986)
• Andrew Niccol, dir., Gattaca (1997)
• Andrei Tarkovsky, dir., Solaris (1972)
• Andrei Tarkovsky, dir., Stalker (1979)
• Steven Soderbergh, dir., Solaris (2002)
• Brian de Palma, dir., Mission to Mars (2000)
• Ridley Scott, dir., Blade Runner (1982)
• Barry Levinson, dir., Sphere (1998)
• James Cameron, dir., The Terminator (1984)

Assignments and Evaluation

Evaluation will be based on written exercises and course participation as follows:

• Three thoughtful discussion questions for one film or text, posted to the Collab forum for the class at least 24 hours before the class meets (10%)
• Two 3-5 page papers (40%; 2 papers of 20% each)
  Two short papers on media or texts we use in class or another text or media object chosen in consultation with the instructor. Students are encouraged to explore works of hard SF outside the syllabus for at least one of their three course papers (short or long).
• Final 8-10 page paper (40%)
  The final paper will be on a topic of your choosing that relates to the course subject chosen in consultation with the instructor.
• Participation (10%)
  Including all in-class work other than your discussion questions, your attendance and participation in discussion.
  

Policies

• This course is taught primarily via discussion. Your attendance and participation are vital to its success. A significant portion of your grade (20%) depends on your class participation. Because the class meets only once a week, more than one unexcused absence will count against your final course grade. 3 unexcused absences results in automatic failure of the course, in accordance with College guidelines.
• Papers for this class will be accepted in printed form only (ie, not emailed or posted online) unless otherwise arranged with instructor.
• No late work is accepted in this class. Work handed in late is automatically marked down one-third grade (e.g., a B becomes a B-) for each day it is late, and after one week becomes a failing grade for the assignment.
• You are expected to have done the primary reading and any other primary course assignments before the beginning of course each week.
• All work in this course is subject to the University's Honor Code. You may work in teams for some assignments, but all written work must be solely your own, and any reliance on published work must be properly cited.
• Final grades for the course will not be released until the entire class has submitted online course evaluations.

Week-by-Week Syllabus

Week 1. Class Introduction

• Weds. Aug 26. No reading

Week 2. Overview

• Mon. Aug 31. "Introducation: New People, New Places, New Politics"; Gregory Benford, "Matter's End" (both in HSF)
  
• Weds. Sep 2. Greg Egan, "Wang's Carpets" (HSF)

Week 3. Aliens

• Mon. Sep 7
  
• Weds. Sep 9

Week 4. Gattaca

• Mon. Sep 14
  
• Weds. Sep 16
  

Week 5. Roadside Picnic

• Mon. Sep 21 (Parts 1 and 2)
  
• Weds. Sep 23 (Parts 3 and 4)

Week 6. Stalker

• Mon. Sep 28
  
• Weds. Sep 30. Short paper 1 due at beginning of class.

Week 7. Reading period

• Mon. Oct 5. No class
  
• Weds. Oct 7. No class (paper prep/meetings)

Week 8.Event Horizon

• Mon. Oct 12.
  
• Weds. Oct 14.

Week 9. Solaris (Lem)

• Mon. Oct 19
  
• Weds. Oct 21

Week 10. Solaris (Tarkovsky)

• Mon. Oct 26
  
• Weds. Oct 28

Week 11. Solaris (Soderbergh)

• Mon. Nov 2
  
• Weds. Nov 4

Week 12. Mission to Mars

• Mon. Nov 9. Mission to Mars
  
• Weds. Nov 11. No class (instructor away)

Week 13. Blade Runner

• Mon. Nov 16. Blade Runner part I. Short paper 2 due at beginning of class.
  
• Weds. Nov 18. Blade Runner part II.

Week 14. Thanksgiving

• Mon. Nov 23. No class
  
• Weds. Nov 25. No class (Thanksgiving)
  

Week 15. The Terminator and Sphere

• Mon. Nov 30. The Terminator
• Weds. Dec 2. Sphere

Week 16. Battlestar Galactica

• Mon. Dec 7. Battlestar Galactica (New Series), Season 2, Episode 18: "Downloaded"

Final paper due in my English Dept mailbox (Faculty Lounge, 2nd floor, Bryan Hall) by the end of exam period for the course: 5pm, Sat Dec 12. There is no final exam for the course.

Last updated November 29, 2009.