Course Description: This section of English 202 — Texts and Contexts will explore Cyber-Literature, that is, literature of and about cyberspace. It is not cyberpunk, per se, though we will be reading novels often classed in this subgenre of science fiction. Our concerns are more philosphical than technical: these novels and texts expose the edges of what it means to be human by imagining post-human futures. We will examine three specific post-human futures: the androids of Phillip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (and the film adaptation, Blade Runner); the AI of William Gibson's Neuromancer (and the film The Matrix, which borrows heavily from it), and the Bitchun Society of Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom.
In addition, we will read several online hypertexts in order to examine what literature in cyberspace might be.
The assignments include three essays and a final exam.
Texts
Phillip K. Dick Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (any
edition)
William Gibson Neuromancer any edition
Cory Doctorow Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (print edition
or free download from http://www.craphound.com/down/ )
Stuart Moulthrop "The Color of Television" and "Hejirascope" (online at http://iat.ubalt.edu/moulthrop/hypertexts )
Stephanie Strickland Vniverse (online at http://www.cddc.vt.edu/journals/newriver/strickland/vniverse/index.html)
Links
William Gibson aleph (includes glossary for the "Sprawl series" which includes Neuromancer.
Cory Doctorow interview in English Matters issue 9
Assignments
| Essay 1 (Androids / Blade Runner): 25% |
| Essay 2 (Neuromancer / Matrix): 25% |
| Essay 3 (Down and Out / hypertexts): 25% |
| Final Exam: 25% |
Grades
I will give all assignments letter grades. I calculate final grades by converting the letter grades to a 100 point scale using the following values:
| A+ 100 | |
| A 95 | C+ 78 |
| A- 90 | C 75 |
| B+ 88 | C- 70 |
| B 85 | D 65 |
| B- 80 | F below 60 |
The University translates letter grades into 4-point GPA values:
| A+ 4.00 | B- 2.67 | C- 1.67 |
| A 4.00 | B 3.00 | D 1.00 |
| A- 3.67 | C+ 2.33 | F 0.00 |
| B+ 3.33 | C 2.00 |
Please note that A+ and A have equivalent point values.
Late Assignments: Late papers will lose one-half letter grade per
day unless you make prior arrangements with me.
Revision Policy: The essays may be revised for a higher grade,
but they must be substantially revised. You cannot lose a grade by revising,
but a higher grade is not guaranteed. I have found that "B" papers
(or higher) are often more difficult to revise, since serious revision
requires thoroughly changing the essay's structure, and "B" papers
usually have a fairly good structure. "C" papers (or lower)
often respond more dramatically to revision, since the major changes
they require are often more straightforward. I recommend revising "C" papers
or lower only. If you plan to revise a "B" paper, please see
me beforehand so we can discuss a revision strategy.
All revisions must be turned in by Dec 2.
Plagiarism: The GMU
Honor code is available online. I will report suspected cases of plagiarism
to the Honor Committee.
