"What is Science Fiction?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers
Channel: OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film
Date: 31/07/2023

How is science fiction defined? Does SF predict the future or does it enhance our understanding of our present problems and opportunities? Is it simply a literary genre or is it a much larger cultural conversation? 

In this short lesson, Visiting Professor Paweł Frelik (University of Warsaw) answers these questions by offering 5 different definitions of science fiction. The video is designed to help high school and college English students identify and analyze SF within and beyond their literature classes.

Spanish subtitles are now available for this video. To access these subtitles click on the settings icon in the video.

The video is sponsored by the School of Writing, Literature, and Film at Oregon State University and is made possible by a new, annual faculty exchange between the Oregon State's College of Liberal Arts and the University of Warsaw's American Studies Center @ascwarsaw. We are grateful to both institutions for helping to bring Professor Frelik to teach at OSU! 

For more discussions of literary topics and essay writing tips, please subscribe to the free SWLF YouTube Channel or visit https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/oregon-state-guide-english-literary-terms

Timestamps
0:00 SF is not a prediction
0:52 Definition 1: SF as a narrative format
2:21 Definition 2: SF as storytelling in multiple genres
2:58 Definition 3: SF as cultural discourse
4:08 Definition 4: SF as a genre of diversity
4:48 Definition 5: SF as speculation about our future

If you enjoyed this lesson, please drop us a comment letting us know what literary terms you would like us to explore in future videos!