MEDIA 319 : Science Fiction Media

Arts

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical study of science fiction film, television and new media in terms of themes, aesthetics, technologies, markets and audiences. Emphasises the unique and prominent role of science fiction media in contemporary public culture as a site for engagement with political questions about humanity’s technological, ecological and biomedical futures.

Course Overview

This course examines science fiction as a media genre. While sci-fi is hugely popular and entertaining, it also plays a unique role in contemporary public culture through its tendency to tackle big and controversial issues facing humanity, and to expand our political, philosophical, social and scientific imagination through creative world-building and futuristic speculation.

Some of the big themes of science fiction that we look at in this course include:
  • Alien encounters
  • Exploration and colonisation of outer space
  • Post-human futures (robots, artificial intelligence and cyborgs)
  • Science and ethics (including bioethics)
  • Utopias and dystopias
  • Apocalypse and the collapse of civilisation
  • The real and the virtual
  • Time travel narratives
These themes are approached through key examples of science fiction texts. We concentrate especially on films but examples may also be drawn from a range of other media such as TV, literature and computer games.

The course strongly emphasises the role science fiction plays in shaping our imagination about the future.  

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Media, Film and Television Restriction: FTVMS 224, 319, MEDIA 224

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify the key characteristics and tropes of science fiction as a cross-media genre (Capability 1.1)
  2. Apply ideas and concepts from science fiction studies and other relevant disciplines to specific examples of science fiction texts (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.2 and 2.3)
  3. Understand and contribute to debates about the cultural politics of science fiction (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1 and 4.2)
  4. Analyse the relevance of science fiction to contemporary social issues (Capability 2.2, 3.1 and 6.3)
  5. Demonstrate a critical appreciation for the role science fiction plays in shaping popular imagination about the future (Capability 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)
  6. Draw appropriately on specific science fiction texts in order to develop questions about and insights into the issues facing humanity today and in the future (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Tutorials 10% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 40% Individual Coursework

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours per week of lectures, a 1 hour weekly tutorial, and 7 hours per week of independent study, including reading and thinking about the content and work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 22/12/2020 04:46 p.m.