STRANGE TERRITORY. Tyrion Lannister, Doctor Who and a multidisciplinary approach on identity find common ground in the Ateneo’s wide range of electives. ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHARISSE B. TACANG
Zygotes and Star Trek. Theological resonance and Tyrion Lannister. Nick Joaquin and Filipino food menus. At first glance, such topics seem to have absolutely nothing to do with each other. However, they have come together and found common ground in the Loyola Schools’ selection of unconventional courses.
In these classes, disparate passions come together. Biology finds footing in the study of science fiction while theological themes are examined in the popular series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin.
Merging personal interests with academic study can be tricky business, but as these courses set out to prove, the lessons learned are priceless. Both student and professors get to ease away from traditional instruction and explore the academe’s limits.
Geek haven
As unusual as these classes may sound, interdisciplinary subjects are not new in the Ateneo.
One subject that has enjoyed popularity for a couple of years now is Biology of Science Fiction (BI14/Lit191.24). Pioneered in 2010 by Biology Department instructor Ronald Cruz and English Department lecturer Maria Mina, the elective aims to examine the science that the sci-fi genre is founded on, such as cloning and alien species.
“It was born out of my interest in both biology and the speculative fiction genre,” explains Cruz, who describes himself as both a biology professor and student of popular culture. “Initially, my intention was actually to produce a Biology of Speculative Fiction course where I will be discussing the biology of dragons, aliens,” he adds.
Cruz also clarifies that, although science—a field that is built on objectivity and fact—is not always reconcilable with fiction, his class is not about pitting the two fields of study against each other.
“I am not trying to discredit what you read in sci-fi—if you do that you’re removing the thrill behind it and the beauty of the genre. What I’m trying to aim for is to illuminate certain aspects of [it].”
AJ Elicaño, an interdisciplinary studies and creative writing supersenior, took the pilot class in his sophomore year. He describes the experience as jarring: “On one hand, you’re thinking ‘What does this do for the story?’ but also scientifically, ‘How is this working?’ and trying to synthesize them.”
“It was tough,” Elicaño adds, “but it was worth it.”
Cruz observes that many students who enroll are big sci-fi fans. “Some even more than me,” he says. This has led to a richer experience for both Cruz and his students. He admits that at the beginning, the content was much more limited; it was his students who introduced him to sci-fi favorites like Doctor Who, which Cruz has been using as an example in class ever since—and he doesn’t intend to stop there.
“Next semester, I’m planning to include some stuff from Pacific Rim,” he enthuses. “I just look forward to [the subject continuing to grow], because we have more and more science fiction sources to get from.”
Unraveling the self
Human identity has been a mystery for as long as written history can recall. From Plato to Martin Heidegger, the mind-bending questions still remain: Does the self exist? Is there even an I?
As a response to this, the Commission on Higher Education gave the School of Humanities (SOH) the go signal to create a class on identity this semester. Thus, The Meaning of Identity (SOH101) was born.
Apart from its striking title, SOH101 surpasses much of what is expected of a regular Loyola Schools subject. For one thing, it is handled by four professors: Dr. Ray Aguas of the Theology Department, Vincenz Serrano of the English Department, Glenda Oris of the Filipino Department and Dr. Augusto Rodriguez, chair of the Philosophy Department.
The class follows a cycle where one professor handles the class per week, leading up to a synthesis week in which all professors come to class at the same time. As Aguas explains, English and Filipino literature, philosophy and theology all say something about the human condition, but from different viewpoints. “I think the fact that it’s a multidisciplinary approach can end up synergizing very well,” he says.
Marco Javier, a management engineering sophomore, believes that the class is going very well for its first trial run. “Even if some of the readings are a bit too advanced for me, the insights and questions posed have challenged me to rethink my own notions of identity… [these are] the kinds of lectures that Ateneo is famous for.”
However, the pilot class has not yet been finalized as a permanent core subject, as was originally planned. “On an experimental basis, one class, no problem. If you’re implementing it across the board… I don’t know if it’s the best usage of our resources,” says Aguas. “I’ll need to see statistics before I can make a judgment on whether we should roll it out for everyone.”
An epic class
George R.R. Martin’s fan base is extensive. His fantasy novel-turned-TV-series, Game of Thrones, appeals to both the young and old across countless cultures. Such a following is a result of what his convoluted narrative offers again and again: Unpredictability.
“Anything can happen. I have no idea how it will end,” comments Aguas.
In a similar way, perhaps no one could have foreseen Aguas’ plan for next semester: An elective on the theology and history of Game of Thrones, with Jo-ed Tirol of the History Department as co-teacher. The two professors are currently designing the class to be as interesting and enjoyable as possible—without, of course, missing out on the essentials of their respective fields.
On Aguas’ end, the elective will delve into the theology within the Game of Thrones universe, particularly the priestess character, Melisandre, and the deity she worships. Tirol, on the other hand, will tackle the parallels between Game of Thrones and human history such as the Roman Empire, ancient Britain, Scandinavia and the Middle East.
Aguas also mentions how the class, if successful, can be used as a template for other HBO series-based electives. He also thinks that the class can kick-start the Theology Department’s electives program, perhaps even leading to a minor for interested students. “A student’s free elective is a very scarce resource,” he explains.
Though he originally envisioned it as a theology class, the class will also be credited as a history elective. Tirol, also an avid fan of the series, looks forward to handling it. “It’s fun. It’s not even stressful,” he enthuses.
Despite the complex task of integrating theology into history within a fantasy realm, both professors are settled on one thing: In accordance with their passion for Game of Thrones, this venture will be worth the ride.
Imagination, integration
Experimental subjects are risky—they challenge students to step past the boundaries already defined by existing courses while they force the teacher, as Serrano puts it, to “find the resonances between what he does in his field and the other fields that are attached to it.”
But the growing list of experimental subjects proves that at the end of the day, they’re a risk that’s worth the while; science can exist in a world of fiction and a god can exist in a bloodthirsty game of thrones.
