LT364-6-SP-CO:
Cyborgs, Clones and the Rise of the Robots: Science Fiction
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Inactive
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
12 May 2021
Requisites for this module
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Science fiction has experimented with speculation about other worlds by means of time travels in time and space and other ways of living and being by crossing boundaries of different kinds including species and the human/machine. Some science fiction has imagined oppressive regimes, hierarchical societies characterised by brutality and enslavement.
Other science fiction has used the speculative aspects of the genre to create radically new, imagined transformations of body and society brought about by scientific and technological inventions. This diversity of treatment in science fiction makes it a versatile genre which has appealed to feminist, postcolonial and Afrofuturist as much as to conservative approaches.
The module focuses on a specific theme--what it means to be human--by exploring the robot, the cyborg and clone as well as the automaton and the vampire. The fears and desires are intense in the treatment of the human/animal/machine and when associated with reproduction and the figure of the alien in the world of the science fiction novel.
This module includes material on such topics as colonialism, genocide, genetic engineering and enslavement.
The module aims to explore science fiction as a genre and in historical context by examining selected examples form the nineteenth century to the present day when science fiction forms and ideas seems to dominate contemporary culture. Attention will be paid to the characteristics and conventions of science fiction and the historical developments in the genre with selected examples from the novel, short story, drama and film. Opportunities are provided to broaden knowledge of the genre by a) choosing one of the texts (from a list of recommended texts) for close study and group discussion and b) making some comparison with film adaptations where relevant.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the literary techniques and conventions of science fiction as a genre.
2. Demonstrate relevant knowledge of historical developments in the science fiction genre exemplified by literary texts studied on the module.
3. Perform relevant individual close readings of literary texts and comparative analyses, informed by appropriate research.
4. Develop a detailed critical understanding of changing ideas about what it means to be human as represented in science fiction.
Essential Reading:
Ashley, Mike, ed. (2015) The Feminine Future: Early Science Fiction by Women Writers, New York: Dover.
Wells, H. G. (1898) The War of the Worlds
Capek, Karel (1923) RUR
Atwood, Margaret (2003) Oryx and Crake
Ishiguro, Kazuo (2005) Never Let Me Go
Ishiguro, Kazuo (2021) Klara and the Sun
Butler, Octavia E. (2005) Fledgling
Thomas, Sheree R ed Dark Matters (2000)
W. E. B. DuBois, The Comet (1920)
Rivers Solomon, The Deep (2019)
For the book review essay and discussion you may select one from the list above or those additionally listed below:
Asimov, Isaac (1950) in I, Robot short stories focusing on 'Runaround' (1942)
Le Guin, Ursula K. (1969) The Left Hand of Darkness
Dick, Philip K. (1968) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Gibson, William (1984) Neuromancer
Hopkinson, Nalo (2000) Midnight Robber
A full list of secondary reading is available on Moodle.
Anticipated teaching delivery for 2021/22: Weekly 1-hour online lecture and 1-hour online seminar
- Dick, Philip K. (2007) Do androids dream of electric sheep?, London: Gollancz.
- Carey, Peter. (2012) The chemistry of tears, London: Faber and Faber.
- Hopkinson, Nalo. (©2000) Midnight robber, New York: Grand Central.
- Wells, H. G. (1967) Three novels: The time machine, The war of the worlds, The island of Doctor Moreau, London: Heinemann.
- (2015) The feminine future: early science fiction by women writers, Mineoloa, New York: Dover Publications Inc.
- Atwood, Margaret. (2003) Oryx and Crake, London: Bloomsbury.
- Wachowski, Andy; Wachowski, Larry; Reeves, Keanu; Fishburne, Laurence; Moss, Carrie-Anne. (c1999) The matrix, Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video.
- Wells, H. G. (1967) The War of the Worlds, London: Heinemann.
- Butler, Octavia E. (2005) Fledgling: novel, New York: Seven Stories Press / Grand Central Press.
- Elizabeth Lundberg. (2015) ''Let Me Bite You Again': Vampiric Agency in Octavia Butler's Fledgling', in GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies. vol. 21 (4) , pp.561-584
- H. G. Wells. (2013) Orson Welles - War of the Worlds - Radio Broadcast (1938): BBC Radio 4 Extra.
- Elizabeth Bellamy. (2015) 'Ely's Automatic Housemaid', in The feminine future: early science fiction by women writers, Mineoloa, NY: Dover Publications Inc., pp.30-35
- Florence McLandburgh. (2015) 'The Automaton Ear', in The feminine future: early science fiction by women writers, Mineoloa, NY: Dover Publications Inc., pp.20-29
- Capek, Karel. (1964) War with the newts, New York: Bantam Books.
- Gibson, William. (c1984) Neuromancer, London: Voyager.
- Proyas, Alex; Smith, Will; Asimov, Isaac. (c2004) I, Robot, [London]: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
- Asimov, Isaac. (2013) I, robot, London: Harper Voyager.
- Capek, Karel; Capek, Josef. (1966) R.U.R. and The insect play, London: Oxford University Press. vol. no. 34
- Scott, Ridley; Ford, Harrison; Hauer, Rutger; Young, Sean; Olmos, Edward James. (c1999) Blade runner: the director's cut, [London?]: Warner Home Video.
- Clare Winger Harris. (2015) 'The Artificial Man', in The feminine future: early science fiction by women writers, Mineoloa, NY: Dover Publications Inc., pp.97-103
- Ishiguro, Kazuo. (2005) Never Let Me Go, London: Faber.
- Lang, Fritz; Harbou, Thea von; Abel, Alfred; Helm, Brigitte. (2010) Metropolis, [U.K.]: Eureka Entertainment. vol. 8
- Klotzko, Arlene Judith. (©2006) A clone of your own?: the science and ethics of cloning, New York: Oxford University Press.
- Jennifer Malia. (2009) '"Public Imbecility and Journalistic Enterprise": The Satire on Mars Mania in H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds', in Extrapolation. vol. 50 (1) , pp.80-104
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Katharine Cockin, email: k.m.cockin@essex.ac.uk.
Professor Katharine Cockin
LiFTS General Office, email: liftstt@essex.ac.uk
Telephone: 01206 872626
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Doug Haynes
University of Sussex
Reader in American Literature and Visual Culture
Available via Moodle
Of 40 hours, 40 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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