Movies are works of art meant to entertain, but they can also serve as a critique of the societies they depict and dramatize. Many science fiction films achieve this by envisioning a future where technology spirals out of human control and poses a threat to humanity. In this course, we will explore the historical context surrounding Artificial Intelligence technology and how science fiction movies have portrayed it from the late twentieth century (around 1970) to just before the release of ChatGPT in 2022, which triggered the current generative AI boom. The history and films we will examine are primarily set in the US-Mexico borderlands, encompassing northern Mexico and southern California, and explore issues such as immigration, labor conditions, health, war, and pollution, particularly as they intersect with AI, with an emphasis on cyborgs and robotics.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Movies are works of art meant to entertain, but they can also serve as a critique of the societies they depict and dramatize. Many science fiction films achieve this by envisioning a future where technology spirals out of human control and poses a threat to humanity. In this course, we will explore the historical context surrounding Artificial Intelligence technology and how science fiction movies have portrayed it from the late twentieth century (around 1970) to just before the release of ChatGPT in 2022, which triggered the current generative AI boom. The history and films we will examine are primarily set in the US-Mexico borderlands, encompassing northern Mexico and southern California, and explore issues such as immigration, labor conditions, health, war, and pollution, particularly as they intersect with AI, with an emphasis on cyborgs and robotics.