FILM 3250 - Film Genres: Scifi

5 credit hours
An introduction to the norms of the scifi genre, its methods of inquiry, and, through a rigorous analysis of eight or ten major films, its most notable experiments. In addition to spurring many technological innovations in moviemaking through its history, science fiction films traditionally have undertaken serious philosophical exploration and social, cultural, and ideological critique. They often address, implicitly or explicitly, our assumptions, our values, our aspirations, and our fears. Moreover, because they speak directly to their times, they serve as a useful barometer for how, at the time the films were made, people viewed themselves and their world. Representative films may include The Day the Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Terminator, Independence Day, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. GN