This program meets on the USC Columbia campus from June 1, 2026 - June 8, 2026, 6-8 PM.
How does power actually work—and how do we learn to recognize it when it no longer looks like an empire?
Course 1: From Empires to Algorithms - 6/1 and 6/8, 6:00 - 8:00pm
This course uses science fiction as a lens to explore modern political structures, systems of governance, and everyday forms of power. Drawing on classic series like Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and Babylon 5, alongside modern shows such as The Expanse, Foundation, and Severance, participants will examine how authority shifts from visible institutions to invisible systems.
Course 2: Conspiracy, Misinformation, and the Appeal of Hidden Truths – 8/17 and 8/24, 6:00 – 8:00pm
The X-Files and Beyond
This course examines why conspiracy theories are so compelling—and what they reveal about power, trust, and authority. Using The X-Files as a cultural touchstone, participants explore how belief is shaped, how skepticism emerges, and how misinformation operates not just as false content, but as a system that influences perception and control. From hidden knowledge to algorithm-driven outrage, this course equips participants to critically analyze the forces shaping truth in modern society.
Course 3: Climate Fiction and the Politics of Survival – 9/14 and 9/21, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Through climate and disaster fiction, this course explores how societies respond to existential threat. Drawing on works like The Expanse, Snowpiercer, Station Eleven, and films such as Greenland, participants examine scarcity, triage, inequality, and the difficult decisions that define survival. The course challenges participants to think critically about fairness, governance, and who gets protected in times of crisis—while imagining more just and resilient futures.
Course 4: Watching Ourselves: Media, Surveillance, and the Performance of Identity – 10/12 & 10/19, 6:00 – 8:00pm
This course explores how modern media ecosystems—from reality TV to social platforms—shape identity, behavior, and self-governance. Participants investigate how visibility becomes a form of power, how algorithms influence attention and action, and how individuals internalize systems of surveillance. By examining the intersection of performance, data, and control, the course reveals how we participate in—and reinforce—the systems that watch us.
Course 5: Who Gets to Be a Hero? Power, Authority, and Justice in the Marvel Universe – 11/2 & 11/9, 6:00 – 8:00pm
Using the Marvel universe as a lens, this course interrogates the relationship between power, legitimacy, and justice. Participants explore why societies place trust in unelected heroes, how moral authority competes with legal authority, and what happens when extraordinary power goes unchecked. Through key storylines like Civil War, the course examines accountability, oversight, and the politics of control—challenging participants to rethink what justice requires in a world of heroes.
Through short lectures and guided discussions, these courses explore questions of ethics, crisis governance, bureaucracy, prediction, consent, and control, pop culture, communication and misinformation, societal development, etc.—without partisan framing or academic jargon. No prior knowledge of the shows is required; curiosity is the only prerequisite.
This course is conversation-focused, accessible, and designed for anyone interested in the subject matter, and the stories that shape how we understand power today.
Once you have paid in full, you will receive a course reminder email approximately one week before the class starts with the course location and directions. If at any time you have any questions, please call us at 803-777-9444 or email pep@mailbox.sc.edu.
