Global Speculative Fiction

(Keywords: Short Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Racism, Sexism, Alternate Worlds,

Mythmaking, Agency, Social Ideologies and Narrative)

COURSE INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Nandini Dhar

COURSE CREDITS:

4 Credits

COURSE LENGTH:

15 Weeks

Speculative fiction is an overarching term that is often used to a variety of genres – science fiction,
fantasy, folklore, horror, historical fiction, magic realism, myth and others. Speculative fictions often
challenge our notions of reality, and encourage us to imagine worlds beyond a narrow logic of
realism, and thus often, enables an interrogation of social and political forms of power.
In this class, we will read multiple short texts. We will begin with a critical questioning of science
fiction, the genre which dominates the world of speculative writing. Next, we will go on to read
closely and critically some of the texts in the global children’s literature canon, since speculative
writing has often found its “natural” home in children and young adult literature. We will then
conclude the class with short stories by a multi-cultural group of women writers – Karen Russell,
Jewelle Gomez, Toni Morrison and Mahasweta Devi – who have all taken up the speculative form,
and have deployed it to understand the forms of social power inherent in their own cultural worlds.
Finally, we will also see a popular Netflix series, which attempts to offer critical commentary on our
contemporary world, through the use of multiple speculative forms.

Required Texts:
All the texts will be provided by the instructor in soft copies. However, the students are welcome to
buy copies of The Secret Garden and Five Children and It, which are widely available on Amazon and
other e-commerce sites.
 COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES (AIM):

Course Intended Learning Teaching and Learning Assessments/ Activities

Outcomes
Familiarity with Key
Critical Concepts in
Speculative Fiction Theory
Familiarity With the Themes In-Class Discussions
in the Chosen Texts
Application of Key
Concepts in Speculative
Fiction Theory to the Two
Chosen Texts
Activities
Close-Reading Assignment
Ongoing Class Discussions,
Readings and In-Class Free
Writing Assignments, Class
Presentations
Response Papers
In-class writing
assignments, class
presentations
Final Paper, Midterm,
Creative Project

SCHEME of EVALUATION and GRADING:

EVALUATION BREAKUP

Attendance and Participation 10%

Midterm Project 20%
Final Paper 40%
Multimedia Presentation (s) 10%
Creative Project 20%

GRADE TABLE:

O (80% and Above) [8.0]
A+ (75%-79%) [7.5]
Outstanding Exceptional knowledge of the subject matter,
thorough understanding of issues; ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles and
extraordinary critical and analytical ability
Excellent Sound knowledge of the subject matter,
thorough understanding of issues; ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles and

A (70%-74%) [7.0]
A-     (65%-69%) [6.0]
B+ (60%-64%) [5.0]
B (55%-59%) [4.0]
B- (50%-54%) [3.0]
F (50% or Below)
critical and analytical ability
Very Good Sound knowledge of the subject matter,
excellent organizational capacity, ability to
synthesize ideas, rules and principles, critically
analyse existing materials and originality in
thinking and presentation
Good Good understanding of the subject matter,
ability to identify issues and provide balanced
solutions to problems and good critical and
analytical skills
Fair Average understanding of the subject matter,
limited ability to identify issues and provide
solutions to problems and reasonable critical
and analytical skills. Average understanding of
the subject matter, limited ability to identify
issues and provide solutions to problems and
reasonable critical and analytical skills
Acceptable Adequate knowledge of the subject matter to go
to the next level of study and reasonable critical
and analytical skills
Marginal Limited knowledge of the subject matter and
irrelevant use of materials and, poor critical and
analytical skills
Fail Poor comprehension of the subject matter; poor
critical and analytical skills and marginal use of
the relevant materials. Will require repeating the
course

ASSESSMENTS

Class Participation and Attendance: In order to receive credit for the participation
requirement for this class, you will need to be an active and attentive member of the class
community. I expect you to participate fully in the class activities, to be ready with thoughtful
answers when called upon, and to offer your informed opinions during our class discussions.
This means, I expect you to log on to the class having done your readings. I also expect you
to be vocal inside the classroom space and participate fully in all group activities. At the same
time, points will be deducted if you keep on talking for talking’s sake. While I respect all
opinions, so long as they are accompanied by clear evidence and reasons, I will not entertain
uninformed bias. Also, this class will have zero tolerance towards racist, classist, casteist,
sexist, homophobic and Islamophobic commentary.

Response Paper: A multimedia presentation on science fiction and racism, sexism and
colonialism
Midterm Project: This will be a 4-6 page paper where you take up a specific theme as they
appear in the children’s and young adults texts discussed in class, through the lens of racism,
sexism and colonialism.

Final Paper: For this assignment, you are required to write a 6-8 page paper. Your paper
should have a clear sense of argument, using close-readings from the texts covered, as
evidence. The specific assignment will be handed out in class later during the term.

PLAGIARISM:
In line with JGU policy, JSLH operates a zero tolerance approach to plagiarism. The
unacknowledged use of material by others within your work is a violation of academic
integrity, and all reported cases will be investigated before potential disciplinary action.
Instructors will address methods of citation and presentation within written work.
DISABILITY SUPPORT and ACCOMMODATION REQUIREMENTS:
JGU endeavors to make all its courses accessible to students.  All students with a known
disability needing academic accommodations are required to register with the Disability
Support Committee dsc@jgu.edu.in.  The Committee has so far identified the following
conditions that could possibly hinder student’s overall well-being. These include: physical
and mobility related difficulties; visual impairment; hearing impairment; medical conditions;
specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia; mental health.

The Disability Support Committee maintains strict confidentiality in its discussions.

PARTICIPATION and ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Late Work: No late assignments, exams or quiz make-ups will be accepted, unless there is a
documented medical emergency (e.g. ER or accident). I reserve the right to request
appropriate documentation and determine eligibility for make-ups. All decisions are final.
Regular reading is assumed: Students who do not do their readings will have difficulty with
the requirements and students who do not attend class will have difficulty with their readings.
I strongly recommend that students do the readings several times – at least once before the
class in which they will be discussed and once after the class.
Course Schedule

August 3: Introduction
August 10: It's time for science fiction to face up to discrimination | Science fiction books |
The Guardian
Racism and Sexism in Early Sci-Fi (authorcarlara.com)
Colonialism and the Emergence of Science Fiction (Introduction)
In 1980: Octavia Butler Asked, Why Is Science Fiction So White? - GARAGE (vice.com)
August 17: Children’s Literature, Racism and Speculative Fiction
Curious George
August 24 The Secret Garden
August 31 The Secret Garden
[Multi-media Presentation due]
September 7: Five Children and It
September 14: Five Children and It
September 21 : Mid-Term
September 28: St Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
October 5: Recitatif
October 12: Recitatif (Continued) , Caramelle 1864
October 19: Caramelle 1864 (Continued)
First Draft of Creative Assignment Due
October 26: Ghoul (Netflix Miniseries)
November 2: Discussion on Ghoul, After Kurukshetra
November 9: After Kurukshetra (continued)