Speculative Fiction as Creative and Critical Thinking, 5 cr

The course provides the students a short introduction to the history, characteristics, and potentials of speculative fiction – a wide field of cultural production from Euripides’ plays to today’s popular sci-fi series that involves thought-experimenting narratives generating hypothetical histories and explanations as well as ahistorical realms. Through its impact on shared and individual imagination, speculative fiction serves as an effective element of enriching one’s creative and critical thinking in service design and in developing more sustainable and diverse views on society. By using the ideas and views adopted from the core lectures, various course materials (including speculative fiction and related research) and guest talks by distinguished authors of speculative fiction, the students will search for, compose and draw on fictional narratives and realms that may prove to be useful for addressing and preparing for society’s present and future challenges.