Firefly in university scifi course

POSTED BY: Weyoun6
UPDATED: Monday, September 20, 2004 22:05
VIEWED: 6478
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WEYOUN6

Thursday, July 15, 2004 1:47 PM

I don't know if anyone is in/near Nashville, TN and interested, but this fall Belmont University is offering a seminar (for credit or audit) entitled "The History of the Future: The 20th Century Through Science Fiction." The course description is as follows:

This course examines science fiction literature, film, art, and audio sources and investigates how Western views of the future have evolved across time due to changes in technology, politics, and culture. Students will discover how the genre of science fiction not only has anticipated the future, but also has reflected the different values, anxieties, and issues of the eras in which its works were produced.

The texts include H. G. Wells' The Time Machine, E.M. Forster's "The Machine Stops," George Orwell's 1984, Walter J. Miller, Jr.'s A Canticle for Leibowitz, Robert Heinlein's The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, William Gibson's Neuromancer, and Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow, along with a short story and novel of the student's choosing. Films include Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Farenheit 451, Blade Runner, and Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron, as well as one film of the student's choosing. Also considered will be excerpts from exemplary series such as Science Fiction Theater, The Outer Limits, Star Trek, and Firefly. The original "War of the Worlds" radio program is covered as well.
For more information, look for course LIS 3610.25 at Belmont University Liberal Studies Courses at http://www.belmont.edu/uc/pdf/2003_courses.pdf and Belmont University Classfinder at http://www.belmont.edu/classfinder/. Just FYI! :)

Darlene: I read a lot of science fiction.
Herbert: Bless you, my child.
Kay: The world needs more people like you.
"Far Beyond the Stars," ST:DS9

SHINY

Thursday, July 15, 2004 2:30 PM

Rock on!

"I left my heart in Seren-ity Val-ley..." <-- the farthest I've ever gotten in writing filk. ;)

HARDWARE

Saturday, July 17, 2004 2:17 AM

Damn, this course would be a slam-dunk for me. I wonder if I can take it as distance education?

The more I get to know people the more I like my dogs.

ECGORDON

Saturday, July 17, 2004 2:37 AM

I think I could even teach that course. I've read all the books except for The Sparrow (need to look for that one), and have also seen all the films and tv shows mentioned. Sounds like a great course.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

BELLOVESUS

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Weyoun6:
I don't know if anyone is in/near Nashville, TN and interested, but this fall Belmont University is offering a seminar (for credit or audit) entitled "The History of the Future: The 20th Century Through Science Fiction.":

WeYoung, are you a Nashvillian yourself? I'm from Nashville, and I will be attending MTSU this fall to finish up my degree. So far, the only Browncoat I know in town is my ex-girlfriend, so I'd love to have someone else to shoot the shit about Firefly with.

"Here's a little concept I've been workin' on, uh, why don't we shoot her first?"

"It is her turn."

BROWNCOAT1

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:19 AM

Sounds like a very interesting course. Wonder if this will be something offered in other schools.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

HLGEM

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ecgordon:
I think I could even teach that course. I've read all the books except for The Sparrow (need to look for that one), and have also seen all the films and tv shows mentioned. Sounds like a great course.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

You should read The Sparrow, an excellent and thought provoking book.

How come nobody ever offers me a job teaching this stuff? I could teach this class without even having to do any prep.

WEYOUN6

Saturday, July 17, 2004 11:09 PM

Just a little more info:

You can contact the Liberal Studies Program through http://www.belmont.edu/uc/dept.cfm?idno=160 for questions about enrollment and such.

And the prof's website is http://home.mindspring.com/~ahsturgis/, FYI.

You can tell I'm a BU alum, can't ya?

Bellovesus, I'm not in Nashville anymore, I'm afraid. Sorry! Hope all's well out your way.

JAKE

Sunday, July 18, 2004 6:37 AM

I checked out the professor's website and under the links section she has fireflyfans.net and the official serenity website listed as two of her favorite film & television links. That's pretty cool. (=

Now, we just need a course like that here at OU. As it is, all we have is a course on the philosophy of star trek. Bah.

"Beyond the path of the outmost sun through utter darkness hurled --
Further than ever comet flared or vagrant star-dust swirled --
Live such as fought and sailed and ruled and loved and made our world..."

MER

Sunday, July 18, 2004 6:14 PM

Mew I wish it was offered in my school. That and the Buffy course I heard some school had some months ago. That would be kick ass. ^-^

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