Full Description
Science fiction literature and film are an underappreciated source for the teaching of history. Finding material that can excite a student's curiosity can be a key towards greater student engagement, especially among students who are taking history as a requirement, rather than from interest. The discovery that they can read or watch science fiction as part of their classwork often comes as a pleasant surprise. Beyond its popularity, however, utilizing science fiction for class assignments has certain pedagogical advantages: it introduces students to new vistas in historical thought, helps them learn how literature and film can be applied as a primary source, and can encourage participation in projects that are enjoyable.
Each chapter provides case studies focusing on a different subject in the modern history curriculum and in addition to providing an analysis of specific texts and/or cinematic sources, gives suggestions on assignments for the students.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter One: Using Science Fiction Stories and Film in the History Classroom
Chapter Two: Nationalism, Racism, and Imperialism in the Science Fiction of Jules Verne
Chapter Three: Invaders from the Red Planet to We're the Martians Now: War of the Worlds in a
Variety of Incarnations.
Chapter Four: Things to Come: The Fall and Rise of Civilization in the Future War
Primary Source Analysis of a Future War Tale
Chapter Five: Science Fiction and the Holocaust
Chapter Six: Mutations and Monsters: Cold War Anxiety in the 1950s and 60s
Chapter Seven: From Starship Troopers to the Forever War
Primary Source Analysis: A Photo Essay on the Atomic Battlefield
Chapter Eight: From Dune (1965) to The Ministry for the Future (2020): Environmentalism in
Science Fiction
Chapter Nine: Confronting the Color Line: Afrofuturism, Science Fiction, and Dissent
Conclusion: A Brief How-To Guide
Bibliography
About the Author
