What do you see when you look up at the night sky? Some see the future of humankind; others see an empty void. There are those who see the homes of gods while others are certain of extraterrestrials. In this class, we will explore how outer space, at different times and for different people, acts as a mirror that reflects back aspirations and anxieties of those studying and pondering the universe. By studying outer space we will in fact be studying ourselves.

We will spend the semester discussing, writing, and thinking about outer space like anthropologists. We will learn how to produce sophisticated cultural readings of the cosmos and find the value of thinking in multiple ways (scientifically, socially, philosophically, etc.) about outer space, appreciating how no single way of understanding is the one “right” way.

To tackle this adventuresome endeavor (boldly going where few have gone before), we will use ideas in anthropology and science, technology, and society (STS) to examine the extraterrestrial. Our challenge is to read social science texts alongside scientific, popular, and fictional accounts of space science and exploration. This journey will open our eyes to how cultural ideas infuse science and technology, adding richness to the study of both social and scientific phenomena.