Science Fiction Assignment -- 10% of
grade, due in Week 4
Your submitted file name must be of the form Smith-Jane-sci-fi.doc.
You are to read a classic science fiction novel or short story or view
a
science fiction film. The purpose of this assignment is to examine how
technology is portrayed to the public through fiction. Is it presented
by the author as a good, evil or neutral force in society? It is
presented as being under human control or evolving on its own? The
technology discussed does not have to be imaginary or futuristic - the
book could have been written a century ago about technology that now
exists. In that case, it would be interesting to discuss how the view
of the author matches with what actually happened with the technology.
Sample list of Classic Science
Fiction
works for CSci 110. You are not limited to this list but deviations
must be approved by the professor. The work must have been released no
later than 1975.
Why 1975?
- It's (probably) well before you were born.
- Personal computers and other similar technology -- iPods, cell
phones, digital cameras, etc. -- didn't exist yet. (The first "home
computers" emerged about 1979-1980)
- The Internet was then called the Arpanet and was just emerging as
an experimental defense research network. There was no Web and e-mail
was just an early experiment among Arpanet users.
Books:
- George Orwell. 1984 (1949)
- Mary Shelley. Frankenstein
(1818)
- H. G. Wells. The Time Machine
(1895)
- Jules Verne. Paris in the
Twentieth Century (written in 1863 but not published until 1998)
- Isaac Asimov: any of his pre-1970 robot or foundation books or
short
stories
- Ray Bradbury: any of his pre-1970 robot or foundation books or
short
stories
- Robert Heinlein. The Moon is a
Harsh Mistress (1966)
Films:
- Metropolis (1928)
- Dr. Strangelove (1964)
- Sleeper (1973)
Assignment:
The assignment consists of two parts: class discussion and a 3-4
page written report to be delivered to your Blackboard assignment
drop-off point.
Class Discussion:
Discuss the science
fiction works you read or viewed:
- Each person will briefly describe the science fiction reading or
movie that (s)he is reporting on - do not go into every detail about
the plot, but focus on how technology is viewed in the work.
- As a class, characterize each work according to the following
scales:
Science Fiction work:_____________________________________________
Type of technology portrayed in work:_______________________________
Technology seen as:
good neutral evil
10 _________________________ 5 ___________________________ 0
Humans seen as:
good neutral evil
10 _________________________ 5 ___________________________ 0
Who / what is in control of what happens?:
humans shared technology
10 _________________________ 5 ___________________________ 0
Individual Report: The
format of the written report is as follows:
- Briefly summarize the story. Don’t give all of the plot details.
- List the issues that the story addressed in the context of this
course.
- Discuss the view of the author regarding the particular
technology
used in the story - good, evil, neutral, in control, etc.
- Discuss your reactions to that view - do you agree or disagree
with
the author and why?
- Finally, explain why you think this film or book has become a
"classic". What has given it "staying power"?
