English-Language Science Fiction Literature Through the Ages
About the course
How have authors imagined the future for over 200 years? What can stories about time travel, artificial intelligence, climate crises, and alternative societies teach us about our own present?
In this course, you will explore English-language science fiction, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to modern dystopias and post-apocalyptic narratives. Through reading and discussing key works, we will examine how the genre has evolved over time and how science fiction reflects and challenges notions of technology, science, power, the environment, and the future of humanity.
The course combines literary analysis with an exploration of the historical and cultural contexts from which the texts emerge. You will develop tools for analyzing narrative techniques, themes, and perspectives, while honing your ability to discuss and defend interpretations in English.
For those interested in literature, culture, social issues, and visions of the future, this course offers new perspectives on both classic and contemporary questions about humanity and the world.
The course includes web-based sessions at set times.
The course includes 6 mandatory Zoom seminars. The seminars are an integral part of portfolio-based learning and assessment.
Course content
The course provides an overview of science fiction literature in English from historical, social and literary perspectives. Through the reading and analysis of key works, the development of the genre over time as well as recurring themes, motifs and narrative patterns are examined. Science fiction literature is studied in relation to its historical and cultural contexts, with a particular focus on how literary texts reflect and critically engage with questions of society, technology, and the future. Literary concepts and theoretical perspectives are introduced during the course and applied in the analysis of science fiction literature, with an emphasis on narrative techniques and interpretation. The course places strong emphasis on oral analysis, critical discussion in seminars, and oral presentation. Through a reflective portfolio, the students are given the opportunity to develop their analytical abilities, test and revise interpretations, and express themselves clearly in English when discussing fiction. The course may also address perspectives from literature pedagogy, for example, the potential of science fiction in teaching contexts.
Entry requirements and selection
Entry requirements
General entry requirements + English level 2/English 6 or the equivalent
Selection
66% Upper Secondary Grades - 34% Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test (SweSAT)
Course literature
Current literature list is available in the syllabus for the course
Course evaluation
Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
