English 202:005 — Cyber-Lit
This section of English 202 (Texts and Contexts) will explore Cyber-Literature — literature of and about cybernetics. The term "cybernetics," coined in the 1950s, refers to any type of automatic control mechanism involving feedback. The term has been incorporated into two more recent phenomena: the cyborg (cybernetic organism) and cyberspace (which is not merely the Internet, though the Internet is what most poeple think of as cyberspace). Our readings will explre both of these cyber-realms, but we will be more concerned with philosphical issues than technical ones. These novels and texts expose the edges of what it means to be human by imagining post-human (cybernetic) futures. We will examine three specific post-human futures: the androids (cyborgs) of Phillip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (and the film adaptation, Blade Runner); the AI and cyberspace of William Gibson's Neuromancer (and the film The Matrix, which borrows heavily from it), and the very human but deeply cybernetic Bitchun Society of Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom.
In addition, we will read several short stories in electonic format, and at least one hypertext.
The assignments include three essays, weekly quizzes, 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://craphound.com/down/ )
Cory Doctorow A Place So Foreign (download from http://craphound.com/place/)
Stuart Moulthrop "The Color of Television" and "Hejirascope" (online
at http://iat.ubalt.edu/moulthrop/hypertexts)
Supplemetary Texts
William
Gibson aleph (includes glossary
for the "Sprawl series" which includes Neuromancer)
Verner Vinge, "Technological
Singularity"
Cory
Doctorow interview in English
Matters issue 9
Hypertext and
Literary Form (Dr Taciuch's English 325 lecture)
Assignments
| Essay 1 (Androids / Blade Runner): 20% |
| Essay 2 (Neuromancer / Matrix): 20% |
| Essay 3 (Down and Out / shorts): 20% |
| Quizzes: 15% (total) |
| 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 1.
Plagiarism: The GMU
Honor code is available online. I will report suspected cases of plagiarism
to the Honor Committee.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
