2009 Fall CLST 85FCS-01
Bulletin Course Description Exploration of ancient and medieval underpinnings of popular virtual-world building tropes around good and evil as found in video games, films, and novels. What pre-modern texts underlie the persistent connection between fantasy/sci-fi and our contemporary cultural practices? How do modern societies "consume" the past, rework it, and remodel it through various media for contemporary audiences? Open only to students in the Focus Program. Instructor: Woods
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title GOOD / EVIL IN IMAGINED WORLDS Department CLST Course Number 2009 Fall 85FCS Section Number 01 Primary Instructor Woods,Jennifer Clare Prerequisites
Synopsis of course content
We will explore the ancient and medieval underpinnings of popular virtual-world building tropes around good and evil as found in video games, films, and novels. What pre-modern texts underlie the persistent connection between fantasy/sci-fi and our contemporary cultural practices? How do modern societies "consume" the past, rework it, and remodel it through various media for contemporary audiences?
Textbooks
course pack will be provided; additional readings available online
Assignments
readings for class; class presentation
Term Papers
two short papers (4-5 pages), and a longer project due at the end of semester.
Grade to be based on
Attendance and class discussion (25%); presentation (15%); short papers (10+10%), final project (40%).
