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Lecturer(s)
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Horňáček Milan, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Few genres have enjoyed as much popularity at the end of the last millennium and the beginning of this one as the dystopia. And the number of novels and films that deal with a bleak future in which humanity suffers the consequences of its own social and political (mis)developments, out-of-control inventions and ecological disasters is likely to continue to grow. The aim of the seminar is to present typical themes, motifs, narrative structures ... of dystopia as well as its socio-critical function. Although the focus will be on texts from German-language literature, novels and films of other provenance will also be discussed. Topics: 1. utopia and dystopia - introduction, 2. "classic" dystopias of the 20th century (Zamjatin, Huxley, Orwell); 3. dystopia and science fiction; 4. dystopia and counterfactual history; 5. artificial humans; 6. cyberspace; cyberpunk as a genre; 7. genetics, cloning ...; 8. environment, ecology, "ecodictatorship"; 9. artificial intelligence (AI) as a threat
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of the seminar is to explore both the history, typical themes, motifs and narrative structures of dystopian fiction and its role in social criticism. Whilst the focus will be on works from German-language literature, novels and films from other traditions will also be discussed. At the same time, students will develop the skills required to analyse narrative texts.
Students will be introduced to the history of literary dystopia, the typical structures, motifs and themes of the genre, and the historical context of its emergence. Key works of German-language dystopia and other literary traditions (including English and Russian) will be analysed, enabling students to develop their skills in analysing narrative texts.
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Prerequisites
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A knowledge of German at a minimum of B1 level; it is recommended that students have previously completed the course 'Introduction to Literary Studies' (KGN/1ULT).
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Analysis of Creative works (Music, Pictorial,Literary), Dialog
Active participation in the seminar, a maximum of two unexcused absences, and a final discussion of the texts covered in the seminar.
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Recommended literature
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Claeys, Gregory. Dystopia: A Natural History. Oxford. 2017.
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Fátima Vieira (Hg.). The Cambridge Companion to Utopia and Dystopi. Cambridge. 2017.
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Horn, Eva. Zukunft als Katastrophe. Fiktion und Prävention. Frankfurt am Main. 2014.
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