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124184 VK BEd 08b.3: VK Cultural Studies for Language Teachers (2020W)

The Cultural Politics of Star Trek's America

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Note on procedure: This is an online class that consists of synchronous and asynchronous elements. The synchronous (i.e. live) elements will take place at the days/time announced above, so if you register for this class, please make sure you’re actually available (in front of your computer) at these days/time. We will use videochat apps (via moodle) so make sure you have a microphone, headphones, and a camera installed at your computer. You also need a stable (broadband) internet connection.

For a more detailed schedule of all our activities, please see moodle once you’re registered at the beginning of the semester.

  • Tuesday 06.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 13.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 20.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 27.10. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 03.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 10.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 17.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 24.11. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 01.12. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 15.12. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 12.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 19.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital
  • Tuesday 26.01. 16:15 - 17:45 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this class we will explore Star Trek as a cultural and media phenomenon that has shaped U.S. American (popular) culture over the last 50 years. We will look at the development of film and television cultures over this period, and we will examine how audiences have critically and creatively engaged with the franchise over the years (e.g. through resistant reading practices, or through various versions of fandom). By watching a number of selected episodes from various Star Trek shows as well as movies, we will discuss Star Trek’s changing cultural politics, and its changing relationship to such issues as American nationalism, imperialism, the Cold War, 9/11, (neo)liberalism, and globalization. We will also explore the representational politics of the franchise, in particular with regards to race (often discussed as “species” in Star Trek), gender, class, sexuality, and dis/ability. We will discuss these issues with a particular focus on how individual episodes can serve as “teachable moments” that can be used in the classroom to illuminate and critically discuss one or the other aspect of U.S. American cultures over the last 50 years.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance (max. 2 absences); class participation and minor tasks throughout the semester; close reading handout; BEd paper or small research paper (for people who are not writing BEd papers), including proposal and annotated bibliography

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Class participation and minor tasks throughout the semester (20%)
Close reading handout (20%)
BEd paper or small research paper (for people who are not writing BEd papers), including proposal and annotated bibliography (60%)

You need to complete all requirements to complete the course. The overall grading scheme is (1): 100-91%, (2): 90-81%, (3): 80-71%, (4): 70-61%, (5): 60-0%

Examination topics

n/a

Reading list

You need to access/watch the series/film we discuss for yourselves. For the series, the easiest way to do this is to get a Netflix subscription for the course period (if you want to save money, have a look at the syllabus once you’re registered for the exact dates), but you are of course free to access the series otherwise. We will also watch one movie (Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country) which you can rent cheaply via most mainstream video-on-demand platforms.

Theory readings will be provided on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BEd 046/407
Code/Modul: BEd 08b.3
Lehrinhalt: 12-4686

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:16