This course is interested in exploring representations of different imaginations of utopia and dystopia in the near future through primarily what China Miéville calls, “Weird Fiction.” Drawing from works often categorized as science fiction, speculative fiction and fantasy, this class considers how these texts differently imagine both spaces of future radical liberation and of continued inequality and dispossession. More specifically, we will focus on the works of writers often not considered part of the science fiction tradition that often depart from and critique dominant imaginations of the future. We will follow how these writers of “weird fiction” differently conceptualize and imagine the near future with special attention to how forms of inequality and categories of race, gender, class and sexuality are represented. We will work on close reading skills and practice developing strong claims in our writing through reading and discussing novels, short stories and films. Course goals include 1) a student-driven exploration of the course content; 2) connecting issues explored in the historical texts to the novels, short stories and films; and 3) individual and collective experimentation with practices of reading, reception, discussion and critical writing. As a “W” course, students will take class themes, in class writing assignments, and ideas that emerge in class discussion, and produce a 5-7 page paper mid-quarter that more deeply explores some of the animating questions of this course. Students will have the opportunity to practice multiple kinds of revision (including meeting with me in conferences and peer-review) in order to eventually expand their midterm into a 10-12 page final paper that is due at the end of the quarter.

Novels and short stories may include works by Octavia Butler, Gloria Naylor, Karen Tei Yamashita, Philip K. Dick, China Miéville, Nisi Shawl, Bruce Sterling, Nalo Hopkinson and Cory Doctorow.