GLAM 339 | Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Antiquity

This course examines the ancient history of the future and the might-have-been--the role of Greco-Roman antiquity in modern science fiction and fantasy. This course begins with discussion about definitions, histories, and theories of "science fiction" and "fantasy," with emphasis on their roots in and relations to ancient texts. Students then focus on representative modern texts in various media (e.g., short stories, novels, films, comics); such texts may include Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, episodes of Star Trek, the works of Ridley Scott, or J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. Students focus on themes of perennial human significance (e.g., the uses of history, technology, fantastic voyages, metamorphosis, knowledge/wonder, etc.) and consider critical approaches that may help us understand more deeply the similarities and differences between ancient and modern speculative thinking. To engage in this work, students will learn the basic concepts, tools, and research techniques of studies in the "classical tradition" and "classical reception," a still-emergent but increasingly important field within the discipline of Classics.