LC 272 From Utopia to Science Fiction: Imagining the Future in Russia and Germany (IT, G)

Syllabus - Spring 2007

"A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at."
Poet Oscar Wilde

"The most dangerous thing about utopias is that they can come true."
Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev

The hope for an alternate future present in utopian thought and the potential for the abuse of power and danger that can result from the pursuit of that utopia will be the subject of this course. We will examine the portrayal of utopia as a radical break from the past and as part of the 19th-century German conception of History in texts by Marx, Engels and Bebel. The intersections of utopia, socialism, communism, revolution and totalitarianism play a central role in this course. A future worth dying for is a central thematic of texts from Russia and Germany in the 1920s and 30s (Lenin, revolutionary theater, Aelita). These ideas will be compared and contrasted with contemporary dystopia and anti-utopia from Russia, Germany (Zamyatin, Lang, Riefenstahl, and Hitler). We will examine the central role utopian thought played in the establishment of East Germany in 1949. We will examine the qualities of estrangement and utopia in science fiction film in the Soviet Union (Tarkovsky). Looking to critical utopian literature, the course will address East Germany's growing social movements of the 1970s (Christa Wolf). Finally the process of dismantling a utopian that was no longer valid and the utopian ideas of post-communist culture will be examined (Pelevin and Becker). Throughout the course students will be asked to consider the power of utopian hope in the United States and its implications today and for the future.

Required Reading + Reserve Materials + Participation/Attendance + Presentations + Written Work + Exams
Plagiarism Policy + Grades + Students with Disabilities + A final note

Required Reading and Viewing

Pelevin, V. Omon Ra.
Wolf, Christa.  Cassandra.
Zamyatin, Y. We.
LC 272 Course Reader

August Bebel selections - e-reserve in Ames Library
- Select : Fritzsche Password: Utopia

Films:
Aelita. Dir. Yakov Protazanov. (Soviet Union,1924)
Metropolis. Dir. Fritz Lang. (Ufa, 1927)
1984 Dir. Michael Radford (Atlantic Releasing Corp, 1985)
Downfall Dir.Oliver Hirschbiegel (Constantin Film, 2004)
Solaris. Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky. (Mosfilm, 1972)
Goodbye Lenin. Dir. Wolfgang Becker. (Bavaria Film, 2003)

Reserve Materials

Ames Library

Utopia: the Search for the Ideal Society in the Western World. HX 806 .U7918 2000

Both Bebel articles are on e-reserve - Library web site under "electronic reserve" Select : Fritzsche
All science fiction articles are also on e-reserve

Films:
Aelita. Dir. Yakov Protazanov. (Soviet Union,1924)
Metropolis. Dir. Fritz Lang. (Ufa, 1927)
1984 Dir. Michael Radford (Atlantic Releasing Corp, 1985)
Downfall Dir.Oliver Hirschbiegel (Constantin Film, 2004)
Solaris. Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky. (Mosfilm, 1972)
Goodbye Lenin. Dir. Wolfgang Becker. (Bavaria Film, 2003)

Participation/Attendance
I expect each of you to attend class (attendance includes active participation and demonstration of effective preparation for class discussion), and complete all of the assigned homework, discussion or reading by the date due. Class attendance includes active participation in which you demonstrate your continual, effective preparation for class discussion. Effective preparation includes completing the reading assignments in a timely manner, taking notes while you read to refer to in-class and posing at least one well-considered question each class period. Bring your book/reader to class!!! Active participation means your demonstration of critical thought about the reading at hand. Volunteer your ideas. If you are wondering something, it is likely that at least two other people are wondering the same thing. Failure to meet these requirements will lower your participation grade. Unexcused abscences will result in a reduction in your grade. Your active participation in the course will increase your enjoyment of it. Sink your teeth in.

Fostering an Exciting and Cooperative Learning Environment
I also expect you to respect the unique background, skills, strengths and weaknesses of each student in the class and help to create a respectful atmosphere where all students feel comfortable contributing to and sharing with the group. Do not hesitate to question the ideas presented and discussed in the course, but do so in a manner respectful of all members of the course. If you feel that you have effectively contributed to the class that day, make sure that you encourage others to participate as well. Respect for diversity is important in creating a successful classroom.

Presentations
In the course you are expected to do a group agitprop performance, a presentation of the reading, and a presentation on an intential community of your choice at the end of the semester. The reading presentation will be done either an individual or with partner. It will be a 10-minute introduction of one of the texts that we discuss in the course. If there are two of you, the presentation should be at least 15 minutes. More information will be given on hand-outs as the time for these assignments nears.

All presentations are formal and should be taken very seriously. Class presentations either done on your own or in a group should demonstrate that you have an in-depth understanding of the material at hand. You have sifted through the various arguments in the articles or subject to pull out what you think are the author's/subjects main theses, points or events. You can effectively explain these points to your colleagues so that they clearly understand your presentation of the material. The presentation should not just be a summary, but more your analysis of the subject at hand. Do you agree with the author? Why? How might you say it differently? What do you like about what the author has to say? Why? In addition, you should draw some comparison points with other things that we have read or covered to put some perspective on the article or subject that you are presenting. This demonstrates your thinking beyond the article or subject itself and your ability to tie it into the greater context of the course.

Written Work
You are expected to complete the response pages for each reading/film each the course reader. In addition, there will be a final paper at the end of the semester, which will be due on the day schedule for a final. Topics may be inspired by class discussion, but must not be summaries of this discussion. Rather they must demonstrate original thought. Papers will be academic, with peer reviewed sources only. All students should discuss their paper topics with me before embarking on their research. Do not put these off!! See me or any research librarian for help. You will receive more information on this assignment in the second half of the course.

Papers are to follow the MLA or Chicago documentation style. Be sure to adequately cite all sources, in order to avoid any question of possible plagiarism. Overcitation is better than undercitation, if there is doubt. Ask me, at the library, at the writing center for help with citation, if you are unsure as to the proper form. Papers must be written in a 12-point standard font with 1" margins and page numbers. Please try to print on both sides of the paper to save resources. Report covers and cover pages are not necessary.

Exams
There is one exam in this course: a mid-term.

Plagiarism Policy
Be aware that your work for this course should conform to University policies concerning scholastic honesty. Scholastic dishonesty will result in an "F" for the assignment and/or an "F" for the course. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as one's own anything done by another), submitting the same or substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one course without prior consent of all instructors concerned, sabotaging another's work, and unauthorized collaboration (such as substantial rewriting of an essay by another) on assignments or exam.

Grades

Students with Disabilities

All students both able-bodied and disabled are welcome in this course. If you have a disability that is recognized by the Illinois Wesleyan University Office of Disability Services, please feel free to contact me with their letter of introduction as early as possible. We can then agree on reasonable accommodations in accordance with those requirements outlined with your advisor and Disability Services to enable your success in this course.

A final note

If you do not understand something related to the course content, purpose or organization, now or anytime during the semester, PLEASE ASK! It is far better to clarify a point beforehand. I am here as a resource - if you have problems with any aspect of the course, please come to my office hour or talk to me after class. You can also get help from the tutors in the writing center. See the schedule.