Difference between revisions of "2021 Physics in Contemporary Fiction"
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
*'''Venue:''' online via Stud.IP, BBB meetings | *'''Venue:''' online via Stud.IP, BBB meetings | ||
| − | *'''Course Description''': | + | *'''Course Description''': |
| + | |||
| + | Physics has often been understood as the opposite of fiction: formulae vs narrative; reality vs constructedness; in short, fact vs fiction. This has not discouraged writers to take this very challenge, as a long genre tradition of science fiction attests. However, the interest on the part of what is considered 'literary fiction' seems to be more recent. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In this summer semester, we offer a new interdisciplinary seminar called "Physics in contemporary fiction". In a rare setting with students from both the English and the Physics departments, we will read a science novel and science-related short stories. We want to approach questions such as: How much science is contained in these texts and how is it incorporated? How important is it for the text? Is the representation correct or plausible? What is the underlying scientific context, and how does it relate to society or politics-related discussions? How do these writings join the 'two cultures' debate? And how can (becoming) physicists and literary scholars, or teachers of either discipline, profit from such a reading? | ||
Please, '''buy and read''' the following novel and short story anthology: | Please, '''buy and read''' the following novel and short story anthology: | ||
Revision as of 13:16, 30 March 2021
work in progress
- Modul: ang622 ('Akzentsetzung'), phy355 (physikalische Wahlstudien), pb113, pb114
- Lecturer: Petra Groß and Anna Auguscik
- Course: 3.02.152
- Time: Wednesday 10-12h
- Venue: online via Stud.IP, BBB meetings
- Course Description:
Physics has often been understood as the opposite of fiction: formulae vs narrative; reality vs constructedness; in short, fact vs fiction. This has not discouraged writers to take this very challenge, as a long genre tradition of science fiction attests. However, the interest on the part of what is considered 'literary fiction' seems to be more recent.
In this summer semester, we offer a new interdisciplinary seminar called "Physics in contemporary fiction". In a rare setting with students from both the English and the Physics departments, we will read a science novel and science-related short stories. We want to approach questions such as: How much science is contained in these texts and how is it incorporated? How important is it for the text? Is the representation correct or plausible? What is the underlying scientific context, and how does it relate to society or politics-related discussions? How do these writings join the 'two cultures' debate? And how can (becoming) physicists and literary scholars, or teachers of either discipline, profit from such a reading?
Please, buy and read the following novel and short story anthology:
- McEwan, Ian. Solar [2010]. London: Vintage, 2011.
- Page, Ra, ed. Litmus: Short Stories from Modern Science Manchester: Comma Press, 2011.
PLEASE NOTE: Use the time until the beginning of term to immerse yourself in the reading of the novel and the short story anthology. Additional materials for preparation, as well as the detailed syllabus, will be made available here and/or on Stud.IP.
Contents
Session 1: 14 April
- Introductory session
- Welcome: Please read our message under 'Ankündigungen on Stud.IP'; familiarize yourself with the draft syllabus that you find here and note the course requirements for 3 KP (students in Physics, Engineering) or 6 KP (students in English/American Studies)
- For 3 KPs:
- (1) active participation in the course (you should not miss more than 3 sessions)
- (2) input presentation on a topic referring to the physics or presentation regarding the media-specific, i.e. narratological aspects of the primary reading
- For additional 3 KPs (i.e. 6 KPs in total)
- (3) one seminar paper (10-12 pp), based on the topic of your presentation (upload to Stud.IP and hand in as print version by 15 March).
- We will meet on Stud.IP (go to our course --> 'meetings' --> no camera, mute microphone (we will add these as we proceed)
Session 2: 21 April
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion: Ra Page, "Introduction." Litmus: Short Stories from Modern Science (vii-xiii)
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 3: 28 April
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion: first story
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 4:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 5:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 6:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 7:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion: McEwan, Solar
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 8:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 9:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 10:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 11:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 12:
- Contexts:
- Reading and discussion:
- Tasks: (see Stud.IP)
Session 13:
- discussion
- evaluation
Session 14:
- discussion of research papers
- feedback on evaluation
[Hand in research papers until 15 September 2021]
Tools
- Handout Narratology
- Handout Literature & Representation
- Handout Key Concepts in Cultural Studies: Culture and Representation
- Handout Key Concepts in Cultural Studies: Discourse
- Handout Key Concepts in Cultural Studies: Identity
- Handout Key Concepts in Cultural Studies: Media
- Handout Traditions in our discourse about literature
- Handout (Non-)literary texts
- Handout Excerpt
- Handout Style Sheet for Literary and Cultural Studies
Primary Reading
- see above
Further Reading
cf. Stud.IP/files
Literary and cultural reading
- Solar:
- Litmus:
