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ENG 685: HONORS SEMINAR
Ecological Science Fiction
Dr. Peter Sands || sands@uwm.edu
MW 12:30-1:45, HON 195
Office: HON 146
Office Hours: MW 10-12 and by appt.
229.4804
Introduction
The current geological epoch is sometimes referred to as the “anthropocene,” after a coinage by Dutch scientist
Paul Crutzen. He argues that recent history is characterized by the dominance of human beings on all other
things and beings on the planet. The term has since been used by humanists, artists, and other scientists, and is
under consideration as an official designation by the international commission which assigns such names.
Proponents argue that we should understand the anthropecentric era to have begun around the year 1800, and
that we are living now fully in an epoch dominated by human impacts.
This course examines how science fiction has addressed climate change. We will read and view science fiction
texts and films that address this point of view, which includes nuclear and environmental apocalypse, water and
food scarcity, biotechnological control of human beings and their labor, and the whole range of human effects
on the rest of the world. We will begin with some definitional work on science fiction, then some non-specialist
material relating to the anthropocene, and then progress to short stories and novels in the genre, concluding with
films and with individual student projects on “cli-fi,” the science fiction of climate change. Throughout, we will
consider both the scientific material engaged by the fiction, the affective dimensions of narrative, and the
alternatives and consequences raised by ecological science fiction.
Course Goals
•
Write and revise prose relevant to the academic study of science fiction
•
Experiment with alternative forms of scholarly writing
•
Expand the writer’s set of available tools and skills
Required Materials
Your own writing to be workshopped, edited, revised, and workshopped again
Canavan, Gerry, and Kim Stanley Robinson, eds., Green Planets: Ecology and Science Fiction. ISBN
0819574279
Martin, Mark. I’m With the Bears. ISBN 1844677443
Sinisalo, Johanna. The Blood of Angels. ISBN 0720610044
Pumzi (2010, dir. Wanuri Kahiu)
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Sleep Dealer (2008, dir. Alex Rivera).
Soylent Green (1973, dir. Richard Fleischer).
The Wall (2012, dir. Julian Pölsler)
Additional readings and screenings to be determined; most will be on D2L.
Initial Master List of Individual Project Novels
Bacigalupi, Paolo. The Water Knife.
—.The Windup Girl.
Haushofer, Marlen. The Wall.
Le Guin. The Word for World is Forest.
Robinson, Kim Stanley. Fifty Degrees Below.
—. Forty Signs of Rain.
—. Sixty Days and Counting.
—. Pacific Edge.
Course Assignments
Short weekly response writings and quarterly reflective letters to peers (50% of grade). One short paper on a
relevant environmental/ecological topic and one longer paper on a science fiction novel or film relevant to the
course topic (average of the two 50% of grade). See complete guide on D2L; meet with me about any questions.
Grading
Your grade will be calculated by averaging together two separate grades:
1.
Informal writing: includes Weekly Postings and Reflections, and any other writing you do that is class
related: a blog, etc.
2.
Formal writing: your major project.
Informal-Writing Contract:
A grading contract is an advantage to students: because you don’t stand or fall on a single assessment, your
grade more accurately reflects the quality of your work over time, rather than how you do on a particular day or
at a particular task. What’s more, this contract emphasizes the quality of your understanding and interaction
with the texts and each other over less-relevant measures.
Informal writing will be assessed as Acceptable or Unacceptable. You will be notified if your work is
Unacceptable; otherwise assume that completion = Acceptable.
Acceptable
On-task
Actively engaged/cites reading/reflective
Around 250 words
On time
Unacceptable
Sloppy, careless, rushed, mechanical errors
Factually/logically inaccurate
Too short/non-substantive
Late
90-100 % Acceptables = A; 80-89 % = B; 70-89 % = C; 60-79 % = D; 0 - 69 % = F
Major Projects:
The project will be graded on an A-F scale, focusing on quality of writing and research, the writer’s
demonstrated understanding of literature, literary critical terms and practices, and culture and history, not time
and effort expended. A rubric explaining grade ranges is available on D2L.
A late project will be reduced in grade, and may result in a failing grade for the assignment.
Administrative Matters
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For relevant policy governing attendance, religious observances, and disabilities, incompletes, and the like,
please visit: http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/SyllabusLinks.pdf. See me with any questions, of course, after reading
the policies.
This class meets twice a week for about 150 minutes, or 37.5 hours of class time. You should expect to take at
least 60 hours over the course of the semester reading the required texts. There are also multiple research tasks
which should occupy 1-2 hours each week, in addition to the time you will need to complete your final research
projects. All told, this class is likely to take 147.5 hours of your time.
This course meets the UWM GER requirements for Humanities (HU) credits. Ask me for a description of the
GER course outcomes and learning objectives for the course.