CANG9171 : B2+/C1 _ Projecting the End: The Politics and Perils of Dystopian Cinema

Projecting the End: The Politics and Perils of Dystopian Cinema

Dystopian cinema has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. But why are audiences so hypnotised by their own hypothesised demise? Are dystopian films mindless escapism or do they harbour pertinent warnings of the path humanity is following? This course aims to unpack this link between dystopian fiction and the real-world issues they represent. With the aid of selected films from various Anglophone backgrounds, students can expect to analyse and discuss dystopian themes across the three spheres outlined by Gregory Claeys (political dystopia, environmental dystopia and technological dystopia) and how they are depicted through the medium of cinema. Through written and group discussion, as well as secondary sources, students will not only develop a vocabulary to engage with dystopian films, but also the real socio-political contexts that underpin them.