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ELL3008S 2007
SHORT EXERCISE TOPICS These short pieces of work (700 words) are focused around issues of theory or background, and are usually due at the start of a new section of the course (see schedule for dates). They should be personal responses to the set reading, often linking issues from the reading to primary texts; they are not simply summaries of the readings. All three short exercises are compulsory. Look at these more as tutorial exercises than actual essays; while I require full answers (i.e. formal English and not note-form responses) I do not expect you to write much more than the designated 700 words.
Space Opera Set reading: Patricia Monk, "Not Just Cosmic Skullduggery" What does Patricia Monk consider to be the defining characteristics of space opera? How does Tiptree's "I'll be waiting for you when the swimming pool is empty" relate to Monk's discussion, bearing in mind that Tiptree's story has parodic elements?
Cyberpunk Set reading: Larry McCaffrey (1991) "The Desert of the Real" McCaffrey argues that "the interaction between genre sf and the literary avant-garde (i.e. postmodernism)... needs to be noted, discussed and encouraged." Why? What is he claiming specifically for the cyberpunk genre? How does this relate either to Gibson's "Burning Chrome" or to Stross's "Lobsters"?
Feminist SF Set readings:
Consider the different views of women in science fiction offered by Le Guin and Waugh. Do you agree with Waugh's argument that postmodernism potentially addresses the problem of female subjectivity in sf, as outlined by Le Guin? Why? What problems for feminism might arise from the intersection of sf and postmodernism? Illustrate your response with close reference to one of the feminist short stories (by Russ, Tiptree or Le Guin). ESSAY TOPICS The two essays required for this course should be around 1800 words long. Essays are generally due in the week after the last tutorial on that particular section of the course (see course outline). Essay deadlines are on the Schedule page. You will write essays on two out of the four sections of the course, one from each half.
I have not set essays on the film texts: you may bring in films to your analysis for purposes of illustration or comparison, but such comments should be peripheral to your focus on the novel (or short fiction, in the case of Section 1). Essays and Readings Theories of postmodernism are relevant to this course to whatever extent you wish to apply them; there is room for rigorous theoretical analysis of the texts in terms of postmodernism, or simply as science fiction texts; it's up to you to strike the balance where you want it. Overall, the course aims at a balance between textual analysis and theoretical background. You will be expected to do some preparation in critical background for each seminar, as well as being familiar with the actual texts we will cover. Your essays should not simply repeat the critical background, however, but should engage actively with the texts themselves. The reading list is available here. You are not obliged to read everything on this list (other than the short exercise readings); select what is appropriate to your topic, and you may also find other relevant material in the library. Essay writing technique When writing your essays, please make sure you ANSWER THE QUESTION! I cannot give you credit for off-topic comments, even if they're valid insights. Please note that I will not under any circumstances accept plagiarised work at third-year level. If you’re lucky I’ll refuse to mark a plagiarised essay and will require you to rewrite it. If the essay is already late and is also plagiarised, it will receive a mark of 0. I reserve the right to send particularly bad cases to the University Court, where at best you’ll get a reprimand and will fail the course, and at worst could be expelled. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AT ALL ABOUT WHETHER YOU ARE PLAGIARISING, ASK ME TO LOOK OVER A DRAFT. I strongly recommend that you check my page on Common Student Essay-Writing Errors before writing your essay: I will remove marks for grammatical errors which are covered on that page. First Essay: General SF DUE DATE: 6 September In a close analysis of any short science fiction tales you have studied, discuss the ways in which they problematise the notion of reality, either on a literal or on a narrative level, or both. How far does this element rely on the operation of science fiction as a genre? Second Essay: Space Opera DUE DATE: 1 October, by 3.30pm. With reference to both the expectations of space opera and the concerns of postmodernism, discuss the place of technology in Iain M. Banks's The Player of Games. You should pay some attention to the issues of identity raised by machine intelligence. Third Essay: Cyberpunk DUE DATE: 18 October Discuss the fragmented social context of Snow Crash, suggesting how far it represents postmodern concerns. How is Stephenson's world reliant on, and different from, classic cyberpunk? Fourth Essay: Feminist Science Fiction DUE DATE: 30 October How does Tepper's Grass combine the generic concerns of science fiction and Gothic? How and why is this intersection important for Tepper's feminist purposes?
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