Intro to Lit: Culture (Literature of Nature & Technology)

Through a combination of
texts that include environmental literature, science fiction, cultural theory, and
popular media, this course will examine the ways conceptions of both human being
and nature develop and evolve in different cultural and historical contexts. Technological
change will figure heavily in our analyses. In this course we will consider a
wide range of topics, such as science, colonialism, globalization, race, politics,
gender, social justice, bodies, communication, work, play, and knowledge
production.

This is a writing intensive
(W) course. The class will devote time to share, review, and discuss writing.

Course Requirements

  • Three informal reaction papers
  • Four 4-page papers
  • Attendance and participation
    (including in editing workshops)
  • Final exam

Required Texts (Additional
readings will be provided via Laulima)

  • Mary Shelly, Frankenstein
  • H. G. Wells, The Island of Dr. Moreau
  • Ursula Le Guin, The Word for World is Forest
  • Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
  • William Gibson, Neuromancer