POLS 305:
Special Issues in Politics:
Dystopia and Human Nature in Film (ONE credit hour)
Instructor: Dr. Rick
Swanson;
Course Time and place: Wednesday
2:30-5:30, MX 130
Instructor Contact Info: office 231 Mouton Hall; phone: 482-6164; e-mail: swanson {at}
Office Hours: MWF 10-11; TR 9-11; by appointment only Mondays 12-3,
or usually anytime office door is open.
Department of Political Science: office 112 Mouton Hall; phone: 482-6171
Course Description: An
investigation of fictional political dystopias in film. Includes problems of political life, imagined
utopian solutions, fundamental aspects of human nature, and the resulting dystopic consequences such utopian social visions might
have on humans and civilization.
Course Objectives: In films, the various diverse imagined efforts at
utopia all result in a dystopic lack of freedom,
individuality, creativity and/or emotions, and thus lack humanity. Thus, these films
illustrate that ironically, utopian “perfection” of humanity actually destroys humanity.
Course Requirements,
grades, weights: Mandatory attendance
and discussion are 100% of course grade, for ONE university credit-hour
(no grades assigned; credit/no-credit only).
You are allowed TWO class absences (TWO missed films) maximum, or ZERO
credit for the course. Students must watch the film from the very
beginning, and participate through the end of discussion, to receive the credit
for attendance.
Tentative
Course Schedule (films subject to change
without notice):
|
Week/ |
Film |
Problem the Utopia seeks to solve |
Human Nature that caused the problem |
Dystopic Solution |
|
One Jan. 14 |
Introduction to Utopia +
Dystopia; short film “More” by
Mark Osborne |
Lack of
fulfillment/happiness |
Desire for “something more” |
Mask or distract from the problem (consumerism? Technology? Drugs?) |
|
Two Jan. 21 |
Pleasantville |
Disorder |
Individuality, freedom,
creativity |
rigid tradition |
|
Three Jan. 28 |
Brazil (See also 1984; The Lives of Others) |
disorder |
Freedom and individuality |
Control by bureaucracy |
|
Four Feb. 4 |
Harrison Bergeron (See also Animal Farm) |
inequality |
Natural genetic inequalities |
equality of outcome through handicapping |
|
Five Feb. 11 |
Gattaca |
Inequality |
Natural genetic inequality |
Genetic engineering |
|
Six Feb. 18 |
The Village
(See also Lord of the Flies) |
violence/crime |
aggression |
Communal agrarian
non-technological simplicity + myth |
|
Seven—Mardi Gras |
|
|
|
|
|
Eight Mar. 4 |
Forbidden Planet |
Physical limitations |
Physical and mental limits |
Ultimate, god-like technology |
|
Nine Mar. 11 |
Equilibrium (See also THX 1138; Brave
New World) |
War, violence |
aggression |
Induced emotionlessness |
|
Ten Mar. 18 |
The Handmaid’s Tale (See also V for Vendetta; The Truman Show) |
disorder |
Freedom and individuality |
Strict control by religion |
|
Eleven Mar. 25 |
Metropolis
(see also Rollerball, Brave New World; The Time
Machine) |
disorder |
Aggression |
rigid socio-economic classes
controlled by corporations |
|
Twelve Apr. 1 |
Sexmission (see also the Stepford Husbands) |
Disorder by Men |
Male aggression |
Male Extinction |
|
Thirteen Apr. 8 |
The Stepford Wives (original version) |
Disorder by Women |
Women’s desire for freedom
and equality |
Android Women |
|
Fourteen—Spring Break |
|
|
|
|
|
Fifteen Apr. 22 |
Planet of the Apes (original version) |
Violence and war by Humans |
Aggression |
Primate rule (extinction
and enslavement of humans) |
|
Sixteen Apr. 29 |
To be Announced; Concluding
Discussions |
|
|
|