[Tracks C, M, and S] In this class, our central texts will be a series of contemporary science fiction films (1982 – 2015). We’ll read these films as themselves works of cultural and media theory. In particular, we’ll consider how they reflect on the ways that media and technoculture produce new forms and experiences of embodiment, and address questions involving race, gender, and geopolitics. Films may include Bladerunner (Scott, 1982), Videodrome (Cronenberg, 1983), Strange Days (Bigelow, 1995), eXistenz (Cronenberg, 1999), Children of Men (Cuaron, 2006), Sleep Dealer (Rivera, 2008),Avatar (Cameron, 2009), District 9 (Blomkamp, 2009), Gamer (Neveldine and Taylor, 2009), Ex Machina (Garland, 2015), Her (Jonze, 2013). Each film will be paired with a relevant theoretical essay, and sometimes with a short film or music video as well. Please note that the first meeting of the week is longer to allow for a film screening. Course work includes weekly short writing assignments, a class presentation, and a final paper. [Tracks C, M, and S]