This seminar will explore the evolution of Mexican science fiction and film from the early 1990s to the present. Students will analyze how writers and filmmakers across different generations have used the genre's tropes to extrapolate their fears and aspirations about Mexico’s present and future. We will discuss how these alternative imaginings—whether utopian, dystopian, or posthuman—provide a critical framework for engaging with some of Mexico’s most pressing issues, including uneven development, violence, and climate change. We will examine works ranging from early precursors featured in the seminal anthology Más allá de lo imaginado (1991) to the new wave of science fiction filmmakers and women authors, such as Andrea Chapela, Gabriela Damián Miravete, and Libia Brenda.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 10

Prerequisites: Open to students who have completed two courses beyond SPAN 241 or by permission of the instructor.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Spring

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring

Notes: