Rogue 468's Bio

Derek Sweet
Rogue 468

  • Name- Derek Sweet
  • Content Area- ELA
  • Location- IA   USA
  • Current School- Luther College
  • Grade Level- Post-Secondary
  • Teaching Since- 1992
  • Twitter- @
  • Website-


Bio

How I Use Star Wars in the Classroom

I teach a course--COMS 239: Hyperspace, Hobbits, and the Hellmouth--that examines how science fiction and fantasy film and television contribute to an understanding of contemporary human life. Embracing the futuristic, the magical, and the spectacular, science fiction and fantasy texts engage the popular imagination, encourage viewers to juxtapose the world as it is with the possibilities of a world that could be and, in doing so, call on viewers to enter a public dialogue concerning issues of public importance and consequence (e.g. science, politics, and spirituality). Utilizing techniques of close textual analysis via participatory reading/viewing, individual critical reflection, and engaged classroom dialogue, students interrogate how such popular rhetorical texts, like Star Wars, participate in the constitution of cultural apprehensions and aspirations, the negotiation of public controversies, and the transformation of human knowledge, action, and community.

Available Resources

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