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This course will particularly concentrate on the last two centuries of intersections between science, technology and literature, assaying major trends and preoccupations present in a range of texts and theories. Within a general examination of literature's engagements, the development of science fiction forms and concerns will be considered, especially because of the way that the genre often speculates the fears and desires of its time onto both futuristic settings and "alternate realities". Students will be expected to read a range of key material, including a small selection of novels, some short fiction, theoretical writings and visual texts.
Just over fifty years ago, C.P. Snow famously challenged the apparent separation of the Sciences and the Humanities in his book, The Two Cultures. For Snow, such a separation was unhealthy, and this course similarly seeks to consider the fertile field of cross-influences between science, technology and literature that challenge such a separation. In the course, students will be expected to read a range of key material, including a small selection of novels, some short fiction, theoretical writings and visual texts that should represent differences and similarities in representation and subject choice that writers negotiate. Amongst the many key areas examined, we will look at the science and technology of modernity represented in literature, including their role in imperialism, colonialism and industrialisation; the varying attitudes of celebration or concern for technological change; the rise of science fiction as a genre especially focussed on science and technology; the role of militarism, utopianism and dissent on literary treatments of technology; the rise of socially-focussed science fiction, and new definitions of social relations, gender, class conflict, ethnic pluralism and multilateralism, and environmentalism; and the advent of “new wave” foci, concerns with ‘virtual’ realities, cyborg and biological technology. Throughout the course, a selection of filmic examples will also be used to illustrate and interrogate cultural interactions with science, including ‘50s pulp science fiction movies, British New Wave and Soviet film, and more recent posthuman subjects within films.This course can be used towards an English major or minor. BA students who major in English would normally take at least two 100-level 15 point ENGL courses (which must include at least one of the following: ENGL117, ENGL102 or ENGL103), at least three 200-level 15 point ENGL courses, and at least two 300-level 30 point ENGL courses. Please see the BA regulations or a student advisor for more information.
15 points of ENGL at 200 level with a B pass, or30 points of ENGL at 200 level, orany 45 points at 200 level from the Arts Schedule.
ENGL206
Daniel Bedggood
Required Reading: • Herbert, Frank. Dune; • Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World; • Le Guin, Ursula K. The Left Hand of Darkness; • Simmons, Dan. Hyperion; • Wells, H. G. The Time Machine. Prepared course readings of selected short literature and theoretical material available via Learn. Note: level 300 students have extra reading provided.
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Domestic fee $1,464.00
International fee $5,950.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 10 people apply to enrol.
For further information see Humanities .