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The boundaries between human and not-human have been a theme in British Science Fiction since Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Nearly two centuries later, the category of the posthuman in particular has planted deep roots in the genre - not least in response to rapid advancements in areas like bioengineering, robotics and intelligent designs. The term posthuman, however, remains a point of contention. It suggests a mode of being past, or beyond human; a mode that is supposedly new and different from what we have known before. Yet such definitions raise questions: In an increasingly technological world, how do we differentiate between organic and mechanized existence? Is the traditional, organic model of human personhood as a stable, unified self a valid model anymore? Has it ever been?
In this seminar, we will track the posthuman imaginary through contemporary novels, short stories, films and essays. We will discuss how these works challenge a binary differentiation between human and posthuman. Focusing on cyborgs, clones and aliens, we will also discuss how these figures are used to subvert, broaden or rewrite our notions of what it means to be human. Finally, we will use the concept of the posthuman to explore the connections between Science Fiction and cultural theory. Drawing on ideas from the fields of Gender -, Queer -, Critical Race -, and Postcolonial Studies, we will discuss how Science Fiction can invigorate feminist, queer, and postcolonial discourses on self and other.
In preparation of the seminar please acquire and read:
Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go (2005)
Jeanette Winterson, The Stone Gods (2007)
China Mieville, Embassytown (2011)
A reader with additional material will be available at the beginning of the semester. |
