Guest Lecture Steve Rabitsch (University of Klagenfurt)

This talk stands in defense of popular culture in general, and science fiction (sf) in particular, with the aim to challenge the constricting boundaries placed on university teachers by the growing corporatization, managerialization, and financialization of academia. It will speak to vigorous efforts of making sf television, film, and video games into viable and potent vehicles for teaching (American) culture at the tertiary level. Since such a venture does not sit easily with the contemporary discourse of academic knowledge production, which places more value on the immediate applicability, economic viability, and/or quantifiable measurability of research, it stands in need of a simple yet powerful defense. The often mistakenly-presumed triviality of engaging with sf artifacts that still prevails in certain quarters of academia must be dispelled by emphasizing both its scientific value and academic relevance.

The potency and relevance of contemporary forms of popular culture as tools for ‘doing’ cultural studies are particularly pertinent when it comes to the genre of sf not least because we find a political spirit at the heart of its wide range of allegorical intentions and parabolic parables. For one, the genre is informed by the very basics of the scientific method—or, at least a semblance thereof. In short, sf’s speculative nature provokes an intellectually stimulating response. Even more importantly—from an (American) cultural studies point of view—sf challenges its readers/viewers/players with the seemingly simplistic yet intellectually provocative question, "What if?". This is especially true for mass media phenomena which have enjoyed global resonance—from Star Trek to Mass Effect, and from Star Wars to Westworld.

Consequently, this talk aims to show how sf narratives are more than mere escapist fantasies. It will showcase both methodological and pedagogical approaches for how to effectively engage with sf in the university classroom and introduce specific examples of visual sf which illustrate the basic tenets of critical thinking.

The event is free, open to the public and organized by the Department of American Studies.

Stefan 'Steve' Rabitsch is currently a visiting postdoc researcher and lecturer in American Studies at the University of Klagenfurt. His research and his classes are dominated by American Cultural Studies together with a pronounced focus on Science Fiction Studies across media. He is particularly interested in the discourses and semiotics of historiography and world-building in television, film, and video games. His monograph on the secret British history of Star Trek is forthcoming with McFarland.

Information:

Department of American Studies Graz
Institut für Amerikanistik
Attemsgasse 25/II
A-8010 Graz
Tel. +43/316/380-2465

amerikanistik@uni-graz.at
http://amerikanistik.uni-graz.at