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History 537
Fall 2014
Prof. John Putman

Gateway

 Syllabus

 Star Trek, Culture, and History

 

September

 

October

 

November

 

December

8/26-28       INTRODUCTION: THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STAR TREK

9/2-4          SCIENCE FICTION, TECHNOLOLGY, AND STAR TREK

 Geraghty, Ch. 1-2 Discussion Questions

9/9-11         COMMIES AND KLINGONS: ORIGINS OF STAR TREK

                     Blackboard: Lagon, "We Owe it to Them to Interfere" Lagon Discussion

EPISODE ANALYSIS PAPER DUE TUESDAY

9/16-18         BLACK, WHITE, AND RED: STAR TREK AND RACE IN 1960S     

Blackboard: MacDonald, "Black and Network TV" Questions for both MacDonald articles

Blackboard: MacDonald, "The Golden Age of Blacks in Television"

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9/23-25         MINI-SKIRTS AND HIPPIES: STAR TREK, FEMINISM, AND THE COUNTERCULTURE

                     Blackboard: Douglas, “Genies and Witches”

Blackboard: Ozersky, “The Demographic Imperative” Ozersky and Henderson Discussion

Blackboard: Henderson, “Professional Women in Star Trek”                

9/30-10/2       IS THERE A GOD?: STAR TREK, RELIGION, AND HUMANITY IN THE 1960S

Blackboard: "Interview with Gene Roddenberry"      

10/7-9        STAR TREK, FOREIGN POLICY, AND THE END OF THE COLD WAR

                                Blackboard:: Jackson and Nexon, “Representation is Futile” Discussion Questions /Borg

Blackboard: Huntington, "The Erosion of American National Interests"

Geraghty, Ch. 3

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10/14-16         A BLACK CAPTAIN: STAR TREK AND RACE IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY

                                  MIDTERM DUE TUESDAY

Blackboard: Takaki, “Multiculturalism: Battleground or Meeting Ground?”

10/21-23       SEX AND THE PERFECT WOMAN: STAR TREK, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY

Geraghty, Ch. 5

10/28-30       THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS…: STAR TREK, POLITICS, AND SOCIETY

                                Read: Mack, Star Trek: A Time to Heal

11/4-6      STAR TREK, SPACE, AND ENVIRONMENTALISM

Blackboard: Rothman, The Greening of a Nation, Ch. 7-8

11/11-13       NAZIS AND HISTORICAL REVISIONISM: STAR TREK AND HISTORY

                                Blackboard: Geraghty, “A Look to the Past” Look to the Past discussion

NO CLASS TUESDAY--VETERANS DAY

NOVEL ANALYSIS PAPER DUE THURSDAY

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11/18-20       TERRORIZING SPACE: STAR TREK AND TERRORISM

Blackboard: McAlister, "A Cultural History of the War without End" Discussion Questions

Blackboard: "FBI--30 Years of Terrorism"

11/25          STAR TREK AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES

                     Blackboard: Baylis and Robert, “The Inevitability of Genetic Enhancement Technologies”

NO CLASS THURSDAY--HOLIDAY

12/2-4         FUNDAMENTALISM GONE AWRY: STAR TREK AND RELIGION IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY

Blackboard: Linford, “Deeds of Power: Respect for Religion in Star Trek: DS9" Linford Disc Questions

12/10         POST 9/11 AMERICA AND STAR TREK

FINAL EXAM: Thursday, December 11th,  8am-10am

*Schedule is subject to change*

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