SCRN2500Science Fiction and Fantasy on Screen

Course handbook

Description

Science fiction and fantasy are deeply popular genres of film, television, and video games. In recent years, superhero narratives set in alternate universes have dominated the cinema box office, while high fantasy series have been among the most expensive and talked about television series of our times. Dystopian science fiction films and television have got us thinking about our relationships with technology and many popular gaming experiences have been set in speculative or imaginary spaces. As film, television, and video games have become steadily more integrated, massive franchises have emerged that continue our experiences of these worlds across platforms, and citizen science has been gamified to encourage participation. This course will examine science fiction and fantasy as it plays out in screen texts including film, television, and games, focusing on genre, theme, allegory, sociocultural commentary, and politics. Students will have the opportunity to interrogate their favourite texts in a deeper way in the context of existing scholarship and the socio-historical context of these genres and consider all the things we take for granted about what these alternative worlds look like and say.

Availability

Not currently offered.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Articulate ideas and engage in collaborative dialogue to enhance understanding of science fiction and fantasy texts.

2. Analyse the genre norms of science fiction and fantasy texts and accurately categorise texts based on their generic markers.

3. Construct arguments that analyse science fiction and fantasy genres on screen.

4. Apply knowledge of genre theory to create a brief for a short film.

Content

This course will offer a multidisciplinary approach to science fiction and fantasy on screen, that pays close attention to the intricacies of these texts while placing them firmly with socio-cultural context. We will address:

• The key characteristics of the genres of science fiction and fantasy, as well as their respective subgenres
• Genre histories and contemporary scholarly discussions of science fiction and fantasy
• Distinctions and similarities between how science and magic operate in these texts
• The use of science fiction and fantasy texts as allegories and arguments
• Science fiction and fantasy audiences and the status of these genres within popular culture

Assumed knowledge

40 units at a 1000-level

Assessment items

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Case Study of a Sci-fi or Fantasy Text

Essay: Essay

Project: Creative Assignment

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.