LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will establish a rigorously theorised relationship to science fiction as a major genre in contemporary artistic output and popular culture. They will learn how to think alongside and through science fiction about pertinent political, social, ecological, technological and scientific concerns. Moreover, they will be able to draw on the different variants of the science fiction genre for methodologies in their research, art projects and curatorial work.
Credits: 5
Schedule: 22.04.2022 - 27.05.2022
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Bassam El Baroni, Patrizia Costantin
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
Why does science fiction matter? This course tackles this question through an attentive examination of the sub-genres, tropes, and characteristics of sci-fi in its deep entanglement with, and expression of the political unconscious of twenty and twenty-first century imaginaries. From the apocalyptic tendency running through sci-fi to more constructive visions and applications, science fiction leans on a specific relationship with technology and science proper. The course considers this relationship and expands to investigate manifestations of sci-fi from different parts of the world and in relation to various socio-philosophical discourses. As basic literacy in science becomes more important for developing competencies in the fields of art, curating, and beyond so does sci fi literacy in the latter s functioning as the interpretive, critical, and philosophical organ for the former. The course introduces a broad range of sci-fi and sci-fi related literature and builds a strong connection between sci-fi and the expanded field of art and curating.
applies in this implementation
22 April
Utopia/Dystopia for whom?
In this first session we will begin with a reflection on what it means to think about futures. We will begin with discussing Mark Fisher’s lost futures, Franco Bifo Berardi’s futurity and Fredrick Jameson’s famous quote “it's easier to imagine an end to the world than an end to capitalism”. In this context, we will explore the concept of utopia, which immediately brings up the question of…utopia for whom? Ursula Le Guin offers us a rich starting point to begin thinking about an answer, which inevitably will touch upon ideas of dystopia.
ESSENTIAL READING
‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’ (1973)
From The Wind's Twelve Quarters: Short Stories by Ursula Le Guin
OTHER RESOURCES
- Superflux, The Intersection http://the-intersection.io/
- Mark Fisher ‘‘Capitalist Realism’’ 2009
- E-flux podcast. Franco “Bifo” Berardi on the future possibility of living well. https://www.e-flux.com/podcasts/407851/franco-bifo-berardi-on-the-future-possibility-of-living-well
- William Davies ed. ‘‘Economic Science Fiction’’ (2018)
- Ursula Le Guin, The Dispossessed (1974)
- Fredric Jameson, Archeologies of the Future (2005) https://files.libcom.org/files/fredric-jameson-archaeologies-of-the-future-the-desire-called-utopia-and-other-science-fictions.pdf
- China Miéville. The Limits of Utopia (2014) https://salvage.zone/mieville_all.html
- China Miéville
https://conversations.e-flux.com/t/china-mieville-we-live-in-a-utopia-it-just-isn-t-ours/7537
- Interview with Kim Stanley Robinson (2020) https://www.polygon.com/2020/10/20/21525509/kim-stanley-robinson-interview-science-fiction-utopias
- Cory Doctorow “The Dangers of Cynical Sci-Fi Disaster Stories” https://slate.com/technology/2020/10/cory-docotorow-sci-fi-intuition-pumps.html
- Pedro Neves Marques ‘‘Parallel Futures: One or Many Dystopias?’’
- https://www.e-flux.com/journal/99/263702/parallel-futures-one-or-many-dystopias/
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Coursework and course participation
applies in this implementation
Write a short reflection (min 500 - max 750 words) based on one of the following questions:
Discuss one of the most interesting ideas or concepts that you have come across in the course.
Engage with one of the presentations given by Bassam, Patrizia or a guest.
Discuss one way you may use or think about science fiction differently after this course.
The tone and style of the reflection should not be academic. This is an occasion for us to gain an understanding of how you have engaged with the course and with ideas and topics belonging to the science fiction genre.
You will need to upload your written reflection on mycourses between the 27th of May and the 7th of June 2022 by 16:00.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
55 hours of contact teaching, 80 hours of individual work. Requirement of all schedules activities a minimum of 80%.
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Sci-Fi Readings and Theory Readings
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
4 Quality Education
5 Gender Equality
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 Reduced Inequality
13 Climate Action
15 Life on Land
16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
17 Partnerships for the Goals
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Period:
2020-2021
(2021, 2022) - No teaching
Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=TAI-E315101
Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts
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