New Approaches in Teaching History: Using Science Fiction to Introduce Students to New Vistas in Historical Thought

Frederic Krome

doi:10.5771/9781475869538

Summary

Science fiction literature and film are an underappreciated source for the teaching of history. Finding material that can excite a student’s curiosity can be a key towards greater student engagement, especially among students who are taking history as a requirement, rather than from interest. The discovery that they can read or watch science fiction as part of their classwork often comes as a pleasant surprise. Beyond its popularity, however, utilizing science fiction for class assignments has certain pedagogical advantages: it introduces students to new vistas in historical thought, helps them learn how literature and film can be applied as a primary source, and can encourage participation in projects that are enjoyable.

Each chapter provides case studies focusing on a different subject in the modern history curriculum and in addition to providing an analysis of specific texts and/or cinematic sources, gives suggestions on assignments for the students.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2024
Copyright Year: 2024
ISBN-Print: 978-1-4758-6951-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-4758-6953-8
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 130
Product Type: Monograph

1. Contents No access
2. Preface No access
3. Acknowledgments No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 8
Nationalism, Racism, and Imperialism in the Science Fiction of Jules Verne No access Pages 9 - 18
Invaders from the Red Planet to We’re the Martians Now No access Pages 19 - 28
Things to Come No access Pages 29 - 48
Science Fiction and the Holocaust No access Pages 49 - 62
Mutations and Monsters No access Pages 63 - 76
From Starship Troopers to The Forever War No access Pages 77 - 88
From Dune to The Ministry for the Future No access Pages 89 - 102
Confronting the Color Line No access Pages 103 - 110
Conclusion No access Pages 111 - 116
Bibliography No access Pages 117 - 128
About the Author No access Pages 129 - 130