The University of Texas at Austin Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/slavic/ Spring Semester 2013 UNDERGRADUATE SIGNATURE COURSE “A World Apart: Russian Sci-Fi in Literature and Film” UGS 303 (#64810-64885) COURSE SYLLABUS Instructor: Prof. Thomas. J. Garza Offices: Calhoun CAL 406 (mailbox in CAL 415) and Rainey HRH 4.190 Phone: 471-3607 or 475-9649 Email: [email protected] Office hours: T 11-12:30 (CAL 406), M 2-3:30 (HRH 4.190) and any other time by appointment Class time: MW 1:00-2:00 pm in FAC 21 Friday meeting time according to section Required texts: [available at the UT Co-op or from online sellers] • Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Russian Science Fiction and Fantasy. Alexander Levitsky, New York, NY: Overlook Press, 2008. • We, Evgeny Zamyatin, [Natasha Randall, trans.] New York: Modern Library, 2006. • A Dog’s Heart, Mikhail Bulgakov, [Andrew Bromfield, trans.] New York: Penguin Books, 1998. • Prisoners of Power (The Inhabited Island), Strugatsky Brothers, Moscow. [available on Blackboard] • Course Packet (CP) [available at Speedway Printers at 715 W. 23rd Street] Films: [excerpted in class, most available in full versions online or on Netflix] • Aelita Queen of Mars, «Аэлита», Jakov Protozanov, dir. (1924). • Space Flight, «Космический рейс», Vasily Zhuravlev, dir. (1935). • Planet of Storms, «Планета бурь», Pavel Klushantsev, dir. (1961). • His Name Was Robert, «Его звали Роберт», Ilya Olshvanger, dir. (1967). • Soliaris, «Солярис», Andrei Tarkovsky, dir. (1972). • Stalker, «Сталкер», Andrei Tarkovsky, dir. (1979). Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 2 • The Heart of a Dog, «Собачье сердце», Vladimir Bortko, dir. (1988). • The Fatal Eggs, «Роковые яйца», Sergei Lomkin, dir. (1995). • Night Watch, «Ночной дозор», Timur Bekmambetov, dir. (2004). • Day Watch, «Дневной дозор», Timur Bekmambetov, dir. (2006). • The Inhabited Island, «Обитаемый остров», Fyodor Bondarchuk, dir. (2009). Music: [played in class, available online] • Various artists. • Signal from Space «Сигнал из космоса», Splеаn, Moscow: Mir muzyki, 2009. I. GENERAL The country that brought us Sputnik and reinvented the robot also created some of the world's best creations of science fiction and fantasy. From the works of classic Russian writers (such as Pushkin, Lermontov and Gogol), to the harsh images of Soviet-era utopias (such as Zamyatin’s We and Bulgakov’s Fatal Eggs and The Heart of a Dog), to the films of the 20th century (such as Tarkovsky’s Soliaris and Stalker), and current post-Soviet works (such as the apocalyptic vampire thrillers Night Watch and Day Watch, and the post-colonial Inhabited Island), we'll explore the remarkable world of Russian sci-fi through a variety of media. Whether you're already a sci-fi fan, or a newcomer to the genre, prepare to discover a brave new world! Course Requirements Writing: This course carries the Writing Flag . Writing Flag courses are designed to give students experience and training in writing in an academic context. In this class, you can expect to write throughout the semester, complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructors to help you improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments, and to read and discuss your peers' work. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from your written work. You are strongly encouraged to use the Undergraduate Writing Center, FAC 211, 471-6222: http://www.uwc.utexas.edu/. The Undergraduate Writing Center offers free, individualized, expert help with writing for any UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis. Any undergraduate enrolled in a course at UT can visit the UWC for assistance with any writing project. Their services are not just for writing that has "problems." Getting feedback from an informed audience is a normal part of a successful writing project. Consultants help students develop strategies to improve their writing. The assistance they provide is intended to foster independence. Each student determines how to use the consultant's advice. The consultants are trained to help you work on your writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work. Remember: you MUST appropriately attribute and cite any words, thoughts, or ideas that are not you own, no matter how obtained (hard copy, lecture, website, etc.). Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, and will result in failure of the assignment and possible failure in the course. Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 3 Attendance and Participation: You are expected to attend all class meetings regularly [both MW lecture sessions, plus one additional Friday discussion section], do all assigned readings and film viewings in advance of the relevant class meeting, and prepare all written and oral assignments. Because the readings and films covered in this course are chronological and cumulative in design, your regular attendance is required. Missing more than five (5) class sessions – excused or otherwise – will lose a letter of the final grade. Participants who do not complete all five of the required components of the syllabus cannot pass the course. In extreme and extenuating circumstances, the instructor may excuse certain absences. Observance of religious holidays is excused. ECHO 360º: This class is taking part in a lecture capturing experiment. As part of this experiment, audio and video material presented in class will be recorded and made available to you for review via Bb. Links for the recordings will appear in the EchoCenter section on the Bb page for this class. Although every effort will be taken to keep the system running, UT and I cannot guarantee the availability of these recordings. Attending class is the only way to insure your viewing and understanding of the professor's presentations. Reaction Paper: A brief (4-5 pages) reaction paper to one of the readings or media presentations covered in class is due by Wednesday, February 20. While this essay is not research based, it may contain references or support from external sources, if needed. Essay: Each student will is required to hand in on Monday, April 15, a more formal paper (8-10 pages), treating any of the material covered during the semester. Sample paper topics and treatments will be given out in class and on Blackboard in advance of the due date. Reading/Film Reviews: Three (3) two-page critical reviews of any of the readings or films treated in the syllabus will be due during the course of the semester. The first of these reviews will be the basis for your in-class presentation during your section (See below). Reading/Film Review Panel: Your TA will group you into “Review Panels” of two or three students to present your critical commentaries to your Friday group. Each of you will be responsible for answering any of your questions or respond to any comments in class. The review may then be revised and rewritten before submitting for grading. Final Exam: A written exam (50 minutes) covering readings, films, slides, lectures from the entire course -- will be given during the last class session on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Special Accommodations: Any student with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259. Any necessary accommodations should be presented to the instructor in written form from the SSD at the beginning of the course. II. GRADING There are five components of the final course grade totaling 100 points. These components and their relative point values are: Reaction Paper (4-5 pp.) 15 Essay (8-10 pp.) 30 Reading/Film Reviews (3 @ 2pp.) 15 (5 ea.) Final exam 25 Review Panel 15 The 100-point final score will be converted to a letter grade based on the UT Registrar’s scale: Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 4 94 – 100 = A 74 – 76 = C 90 – 93 = A- 70 – 73 = C- 87 – 89 = B+ 67 – 69 = D+ 84 – 86 = B 64 – 66 = D 80 – 83 = B- 60 – 63 = D- 77 – 79 = C+ 59 and below = F III. UT HONOR CODE The University of Texas Honor Codes reads: “The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness and respect toward peers and community.” Each class participant is expected to adhere to these principles throughout the course, in dealing with the instructors, fellow students, and in completing all written assignments for the course. Your instructors will do the same. COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS Monday, January 14 Introduction to UGS 303 Overview of syllabus and requirements for UGS 303 • Establishment of scene: Russia and Science Fiction and Fantasy For next meeting, read “Why Science Fiction is the Wrong and Only Name for It” in the CP. Wednesday, January 16 Toward a Definition of Science Fiction • The need and place of science fiction in Western literature and culture For next session, read “Worlds of Russian Fantasy” (pp. 9-38) in Levitsky, and “The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve” in the CP. Wednesday, January 23 Science Fiction vs. Science Fantasy • Understanding Fantastic Worlds: Fact and Fiction • University Treasure: HRC Currey Science Fiction Collection For the next session, read “From Folk Myth to the Fantastic in Poetry and Prose” (pp. 39-56) in Levitsky. Russian Fantasy vs. Fiction Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 5 Monday, January 28 The Origins of Russian Sci-Fi: Fantasy • The Age of Enlightenment in Russia and Literature • The creation of the “phantasmagoric” For next meeting, read Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman” and “The Queen of Spades,” and Lermontov’s “Demon” (pp. 73-106) in Levitsky. Wednesday, January 30 19th Century Texts • The Supernatural and Fantasy in Russian society • Depicting the “Other” in literature For next meeting, read Gogol’s “The Diary of a Madman” and “The Nose” (pp.