Women of Wonder: Feminist and Queer Science Fiction 4219-SC013-OG

Although women have been historically marginalized as writers (and fans) of science fiction, this course seeks to recognize and analyze the specificity of their literary output and the way they revolutionized the genre. Drawing both from classic gender and queer theory as well as literary studies of science fiction and speculative fiction, the course will analyze the tropes, themes and narratives common to SF novels that concentrate on (queering) gendered relationships, sexual difference, reproductive technologies, femininities and masculinities as well as the structuring of posthuman, non-human, and transhuman subjectivities. Students are expected to carry out their own research into popular SF subgenres as well as participate actively in the classes.

Main topics:
1. Introduction: why do we need feminist SF?
2. Feminist utopias/dystopias
3. SF graphic novels
4. Questioning gender
5. Queering the canon
6. Posthuman reproduction
7. Politics of location
8. Embodiment and technology
9. Eco-feminism and new subjectivities
10. Limits of generic borders

Type of course

general courses

Learning outcomes

KNOWLEDGE

Upon completing this course a student:
a. understands the import of feminist reformulations of science fiction literature in the context of contemporary cultural debates
B. has an advanced knowledge of the development of SF literature in the US, of different SF subgenres and of selected generic trends, tropes and motifs
C. explains dependencies between social movements and cultural representations as well as the limits of identity politics in connection to contemporary SF literature

SKILLS

Upon completing this course a student:
a. is able to critically apply theories and concepts concerning literary theory, feminist criticism and queer theory
b. is able to analyze literary works in terms of identity politics, processes of exclusion/inclusion, politics of representation and social movements
c. can define and describe different types of plot mechanisms, characterisation, stylistic devices, generic formulas commonly employed in SF subgenres

COMPETENCES
Upon completing this course a student:
a. understands and appreciates the role of utopian and dystopian narratives for the social dialogue in contemporary American culture
b. is aware of the importance of the intersectional approach in critical analyses of gender, sexuality, class and race.
c. is able to plan and undertake research steps order to prepare an essay based on an analysis of an SF work chosen by the student

Assessment criteria

Special emphasis is placed on students' active participation, which means that students are expected to participate in the discussions and groupwork during the classes. Students should read the assigned texts, watch the assigned movies and engage with other primary source materials.

Active class participation: 30%
Final essay/final project: 30%
Final test: 20%
Four responses: 20%

Students need 60% to pass the course.

Bibliography

Primary readings:

Selected stories by Joanna Russ, Ursula Le Guin, Margaret Atwood, Livia Llewellyn, Lucy Snyder, Molly Tanzer, Pat Cadigan, Alice Sheldon (James Tiptree, Jr), L. Timmel Duchamp, Karen Russell, Samuel R. Delany, Octavia Butler, etc.
DeConnick, Kelly Sue and Valentine De Landro. Bitch Planet. Image Comics: 2015.
Griffith, Nicola and Stephen Pagel, eds. Bending the Landscape: Original Gay and Lesbian Writing, Science Fiction. Woodstock: Overlook Press, 1998.
Imarisha, Walidah and Adrienne Maree Brown, eds. Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements. AK Press, 2015.
Okorafor, Nnedi. Binti. Tor.com, 2015.
Sargent, Pamela, ed. Women of Wonder: Sf Stories by Women about Women. Penguin, 1974.
Sargent, Pamela, ed. Women of Wonder: The Contemporary Years. San Diego, Harcourt Brace&Co., 1995.
Sargent, Pamela, ed. More Women of Wonder: Science Fiction Novelletes by Women about Women. Vintage Books, 1976.
Sargent, Pamela, ed. The New Women of Wonder: Recent Science Fiction Stories by Women about Women. Vintage Books, 1977.
Scott, Melissa. Shadow Man. Maple Shade, NJ: Lethe Press, 1995.
Vandermeer, Jeff. Annihilation. FSG Originals, 2014.

Secondary readings:

Barr, Marleen. Feminist Fabulation: Space/Postmodern Fiction. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1992.
Barr, Marleen. Lost in Space: Probing Feminist Science Fiction and Beyond. The University of North Carolina Press, 1993.
Delany, Samuel R. The Jewel-Hinged Jaw: Notes on Language of Science Fiction, Revised Edition. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan, 2009.
Hollinger, Veronica. “(Re)reading Queerly: Science Fiction, Feminism, and the Defamiliarization of Gender.” Science Fiction Studies; Mar99, Vol. 26 Issue 1.
Hurley, Kameron. We Have Always Fought: Challenging the ‘Women, Cattle and Slaves’ Narrative,” Lightspeed: Women Destroy Science Fiction! Special Issue, Jun 2014.
Pearson, Wendy Gay, Veronica Hollinger and Joan Gordon, eds. Queer Universes: Sexualities in Science Fiction. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2008.
Pearson, Wendy. “Alien Cryptographies: The View from Queer,” Science Fiction Studies; Mar99, Vol. 26 Issue 1.
Russ, Joanna. How to Supress Women’s Writing, University of Texas Press, 1983.
Wolmark, Jenny, ed. Cybersexualities: A Reader on Feminist Theory, Cyborgs and Cyberspace. Edinburgh University Press: 1992.

Please note that some texts may be changed.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4219-SC013-OG in USOSweb