Virtual Realities
Dreams, projections, simulacra, literary fantasy, and - more recently - VR headsets: they all tap into the notion of a virtual reality, one whose relation to the "real" world is not always easy to discern. What does it mean for something to be "virtually" or "nearly" real? In this course, we take a broad look at this question and consider virtual reality from various historical perspectives (including Plato's Cave Allegory, Descartes' Meditations, and Calderon's Life is a Dream) before focusing on more recent literary approaches within the context of the rapidly changing technological environment. Further readings will likely include Borges, Baudrillard, Le Guin, Bateson, and Hayles. Students will also complete a short project on a fantasy novel of their choice.