College instructors often bring their personal interests into the classroom as they may apply to the material presented. No matter how hard we try to be totally objective in our lectures and discussions, the undeniable fact is that no human can be totally unbiased and purely objective. Having been a fan of science fiction since I was a child, science fiction anecdotes and philosophies are a staple in my classroom presentations.
What place does science fiction have in an academic classroom is a question I have heard a few times. What purpose could it possibly serve? Well, there are many lessons, life applications, and sociological undertones in science fiction and I incorporate this part of our popular culture in the classroom as often as an opportunity presents itself. I particularly focus on Star Trek nd Star Wars in my discussions and occasional class assignments.
Most are bewildered and confused by my Sci-Fi bantering at first, but in time begin to realize that both Star Trek and Star Wars are a little more than romps through galaxies on futuristic starships. Both of these science fiction sagas pertain to sociology in many ways, yet most people fail to make this connection. This could be partly due to one's limited understanding of sociology or the inability to see beyond the futuristic settings of the science fiction genre. I believe it is, more than likely, a combination of the two. For this reason, I have decided to discuss science fiction in the classroom, particularly how Star Trek and Star Wars can be incorporated into any sociology or related course and to give some examples of how I have been successful in this approach.
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