Topics in Literature, Film, and Media (215-0-02)
Topic
Speculative Fictions of Race and Empire
Instructors
Mariana Eridani Lowe
Meeting Info
Parkes Hall 214: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
TV shows like Andor, Game of Thrones, and The Last of Us have sought to portray great empires: the Galactic Empire, The Seven Kingdoms, and FEDRA. All-powerful, authoritarian kingdoms and state and/or corporate powers abound in the many genres of speculative fiction—from sci-fi to fantasy, from dystopian to horror. But how do they relate to our contemporary moment and history? This class examines how empires are conceived and constructed and what roles race and gender play in their creation. Linking the history of U.S. empire building across the hemisphere with contemporary popular media and the works of Latinx and Indigenous authors and filmmakers, we'll ask: how are empires built? What purposes do they serve? How do they construct (and deconstruct) the meanings of race and gender? And finally, how does speculative fiction envision alternative futures? Texts and media may include selections from Helena María Viramontes' The Moths, Vanessa Angélica Villareal's Magical/ Realism, Cherie Dimaline's The Marrow Thieves, Andor, Game of Thrones, and The Last of Us.
Teaching Method
Class discussion.
Evaluation Method
Reflections, Short Writings, Group Presentations, and Final Projects.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area