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Ecological Utopias and Dystopias
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:31:13
Abstract
This course explores responses to the changing environment from the Romantic age to the present day as expressed in the utopian and dystopian imagination. It will trace u/dystopian thought and action across literature, political/scientific theory and social organization, investigating its ability to both illustrate contemporary ecological attitudes in enlightening ways and catalyse genuine change.
Objective
This course aims to: 1) Deepen students’ understanding of u/dystopian thought and action, environmentalism, and the intersection between the two. 2) Allow students to confidently conduct critical analyses of environmental u/dystopian works, considering genre and socio-cultural context. 3) Strengthen students’ ability to employ u/dystopian and environmentalist themes in their own work.
Content
This course will explore the ancient and controversial idea of utopia, as well as its sister concept of dystopia, in relation to shifting attitudes towards a changing environment, from the Romantic period to the present day. Beginning with dystopian proto-climate writings from the Romantic period, then continuing through seminal ecological utopias of the Victorian age and 20th century (both written and lived), we will end up exploring contemporary cross-media eco-dystopia and -utopia of various forms. Simultaneously, we will engage with related environmental thought by the likes of Henry David Thoreau, Peter Kropotkin and Murray Bookchin, as well as various other scholars within environmental science, politics and literature. Ultimately, our aim is to investigate the crucial interdependence between u/dystopian thinking and the ecological imagination, critically determining both the severe risks and enormous potential of ecological social dreaming (and nightmares), while debating their function in contemporary social and scientific research and practice.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 40
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Ecological Utopias and Dystopias |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Wissenschaft im Kontext (Science in Perspective) (In Kursen aus dem Programm “Wissenschaft im Kontext” lernen Studierende, die MINT Fächer der ETH aus der Perspektive der Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften zu reflektieren. Nur die in diesem Abschnitt aufgelisteten Fächer können als "Wissenschaft im Kontext" angerechnet werden.)
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Typ A: Förderung allgemeiner Reflexionskompetenz (WiK-Kurse werden für Bachelorstudierende nach dem ersten Studienjahr sowie für alle Masterstudierende und Doktorierende empfohlen. Alle WiK-Kurse sind in Typ A gelistet. Bei den unter Typ B aufgeführten Kursen handelt es sich lediglich um Belegungsempfehlungen für bestimmte Departemente.)
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