ENGL 208B
Winter 2019 ML 246 MW 11:30 AM – 12:50 PM
Professor: Meghan K. Riley
Office: PAS 2215
Office Hours: Mondays, 10:15–11:15 AM
Email: meghan.riley@uwaterloo.ca
Course Description
This course is a survey of contemporary speculative fiction, with a focus on the ways race, gender, and sexuality are depicted by North American and Canadian women of color writers and in contemporary North American and Canadian speculative fiction television. The theories guiding the focus and analysis will be postcolonial, gender, and intersectional feminist theories. The course is organized thematically, and will be discussion based. The onus will be on students to lead the discussion and identify themes. Following each major unit or reading, there will be a lecture in order to ensure coverage of key themes and learning goals.
Content Learning Goals
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- List major periods in the history of science fiction, and describe their key features
- Define the genres:
- Science fiction
- Fantasy
- Speculative fiction
- Describe the theories:
- Postcolonial theory
- Gender theory
- Intersectional feminist theory
- Appreciate the diversity of speculative fiction
- Identify key themes in both speculative fiction literature and television
- Apply postcolonial, gender, and intersectional theories to your analysis of depictions of race, gender, and sexuality in speculative fiction literature and television
Transferable Skill Learning Goals
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Respond thoroughly and thoughtfully to writing prompts, some of which may ask you to question your worldviews and opinions
- Analyze complex texts, including novels and television episodes
- Synthesize information from multiple texts, connecting themes and concepts
- Argue for or against an interpretation
- Provide evidence for your claims
- Cite sources accurately and thoroughly
- Lead a discussion
- Respond thoughtfully, thoroughly, and considerately to other’s interpretations
Course Policies
Course Policies (Attendance)
Attendance is important, because participation is important. Consistent attendance (no more than two unexcused absences) and participation will result in full marks (18%) for participation. If you miss more than two classes without documentation, your participation mark will decrease by 1% for each additional absence.
Course Policies (Participation)
In the interests of supporting the success of all students, participation does not necessarily mean that you speak publicly in class. Participation means that you complete the daily writing prompts, participate in exercises such as think-pair-share, Google Docs commentary, inkshedding, etc.
Course Policies (Contacting the Instructor)
I welcome you to make appointments to discuss your progress in the course. As for email, please expect that it may take me up to two business days to reply. Also, please check both the syllabus and LEARN before you email me – especially if you have missed a class!
University Policies
Plagiarism
Please familiarize yourself with University of Waterloo Policies 33, 70, 71, and 72, which cover your rights and your responsibilities as a student at the University of Waterloo. Of particular importance are Policies 33 and 70, which govern both academic responsibilities such as academic integrity as well as the procedures which are to be followed if that academic integrity - for instance, if a student plagiarizes - is breached. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying the work of another, using someone’s work without quoting or paraphrasing it properly, and using someone’s work without citation. You are expected to understand what plagiarism is and to avoid it. If you have any questions about plagiarism, ask!
Accessibility/AccessAbility Services
If you have a permanent or temporary disability and would like to arrange for accommodation of that disability, please contact AccessAbility Services at the University of Waterloo. The number for AccessAbility Services is (519) 888-4567 ext. 35082. The email is access@uwaterloo.ca AccessAbility Services is located at Needles Hall 1401. To receive services through AccessAbility Services, you will need to provide professional documentation of your disability.
Counselling Services
It is common for university students to experience mental illness, and you may want or need to seek help. Some of the course material may also be disturbing to you. Counselling Services provides 1 on 1 appointments (walk ins and regular, scheduled appointments) as well as group therapy. You can call them at (519) 888-4567 ext. 32655 or visit their office at 2401 Needles Hall (Needles Hall addition).
Required Texts
Adeyemi, Tomi. Children of Blood and Bone. New York: Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2018. (For purchase at UW Bookstore)
Anzaldua, Gloria. “La Conciencia de la Mestiza: Towards a New Consciousness.” The Woman That I Am: The Literature and Culture of Contemporary Women of Color. Ed. Madison, D. Soyini. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1997. (Link in course schedule)
Butler, Judith. “Bodily Inscriptions, Performative Subversions.” Gender Trouble. New York: Routledge Classics, 1990. (Link in course schedule)
Butler, Octavia E. Seed to Harvest. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2007. (Will be available on LEARN)
Butler, Octavia E. Xenogenesis. New York: Warner Books, 1989. Pages 530-580. (Will be available on LEARN)
Haraway, Donna. “Cyborg Manifesto.” The Woman That I Am: The Literature and Culture of Contemporary Women of Color. Ed. Madison, D. Soyini. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1997. (Link in course schedule)
Lai, Larissa. Salt Fish Girl. Markham, Ontario, Canada: Thomas Allen Press, 2008. (For purchase at UW Bookstore)
Lye, John. “An Introduction to Post-Colonialism, Post-colonial Theory, and Post-colonial Literature.” ENGL 4F70, Contemporary Literary Theory, Brock University. (Link in course schedule)
Nash, Jennifer. “re-thinking intersectionality.” “re-thinking intersectionality.” Feminist Review. 2008: 1-15. Palgrave Journals. (Link in course schedule)
Okorafor, Nnedi. Who Fears Death. New York: Daw Books, 2014. (Will be available on LEARN)
Robinson, Eden. Trickster Drift. Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2018. (For purchase at UW Bookstore)
Grading/Assignment Due Dates and Values
|
Requirement |
Due Date(s) |
Value |
|---|---|---|
|
Attendance |
21% (1% per class, allowing for two undocumented absences) |
|
|
Response papers (2) |
Monday, September 14 Monday, September 21 |
10% (5 each) |
|
Writing prompts (16) |
16% (1% each) |
|
|
Discussion board posts (9) |
Every Monday, weeks 4-12 |
27% (3% each) |
|
Discussion board post responses (3) |
January 30 March 6 April 3 |
6% (2% each) |
|
Reflection paper |
Monday, April 15 |
20% |
|
Total |
100% |
Course Schedule
|
Day |
Date |
Topic |
Assignment |
Due Today |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
M, 1/7 |
Lecture: Brief History of SF – and a note on terminology Course overview |
|||
|
2 |
W, 1/9 |
Lecture: How to Read SF |
Read Who Fears Death, pages 1-x and Chapter 8 “re-thinking intersectionality” “Cyborg Manifesto” Write response paper |
|
|
|
3 |
M, 1/14 |
Viewing: The Flash, “True Colors” |
Response paper |
||
|
4 |
W, 1/16 |
Discussion: “Who Fears Death,” “re-thinking intersectionality,” and “Cyborg Manifesto” |
Read Wild Seed Book One, Chapter 1 and Book Three, Chapter 11 Imago pages 530-580 “Bodily Inscriptions, Performative Subversions” Write response paper |
||
|
5 |
M, 1/21 |
Viewing: Star Trek Voyager, “Faces” |
Response paper |
||
|
6 |
W, 1/23 |
Discussion: Wild Seed, Imago, and “Bodily Inscriptions” |
Read Salt Fish Girl, pages 1-48 “An Introduction to Post-Colonialism” “La Conciencia de la Mestiza: Towards a New Consciousness” (pages 2-6) Write discussion board post |
|
|
|
7 |
M, 1/28 |
Viewing: Star Trek Deep Space Nine, “Sons and Daughters” |
Write discussion board post response |
Discussion board post |
|
|
8 |
W, 1/30 |
NO CLASS. Online discussion: Salt Fish Girl and “La Conciencia de la Mestiza” |
Read Children of Blood and Bone, pages 1-115 and TBA Write discussion board post |
Discussion board post response |
|
|
9 |
M, 2/4 |
Lecture: Depictions of race and gender in contemporary SF television |
Discussion board post |
||
|
10 |
W, 2/6 |
Discussion: Children of Blood and Bone and TBA |
Read Children of Blood and Bone, pages 116-233 Write discussion board post |
||
|
11 |
M, 2/11 |
Viewing: TBA |
Discussion board post |
||
|
12 |
W, 2/13 |
Discussion: Children of Blood and Bone |
Read Children of Blood and Bone, pages 233-315 Write discussion board post |
||
|
Deadline for 50% tuition refund - 2/15 Reading Week |
|||||
|
13 |
M, 2/25 |
Viewing: TBA |
Discussion board post |
||
|
14 |
W, 2/27 |
Mid-semester review |
Read Children of Blood and Bone, Write discussion board post pages 316-525 |
||
|
15 |
M, 3/4 |
Lecture: Essentialism, hybridity, and empathy in speculative fiction literature |
Write discussion board post response |
Discussion board post |
|
|
16 |
W, 3/6 |
Discussion: Children of Blood and Bone |
Read Trickster Drift, pages 1-151 Write discussion board post |
Discussion board post response |
|
|
17 |
M, 3/11 |
Viewing: TBA |
Discussion board post |
||
|
18 |
W, 3/13 |
Discussion: Trickster Drift |
Read excerpt from Sister Mine and TBA Write discussion board post |
||
|
19 |
M, 3/18 |
Viewing: TBA |
Write discussion board post response |
Discussion board post |
|
|
20 |
W, 3/20 |
Discussion: Sister Mine and TBA |
Read Trickster Drift, pages 152-261 Write discussion board post |
||
|
21 |
M, 3/25 |
Viewing: TBA |
Discussion board post |
||
|
22 |
W, 3/27 |
Discussion: Trickster Drift |
Read Trickster Drift, pages 262-370 |
||
|
23 |
M, 4/1 |
Discussion: Trickster Drift |
Discussion board post |
||
| 24 | W, 4/3 | Lecture: TBA | Write: reflection paper | Discussion board post response | |
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