Contemporary culture is haunted by the image of artificial killing machine as metaphor for technology run rampant. Fears may be prompted by feelings of alienation in automated society and underlying suspicion that humans may be nothing more than sophisticated machines. Course maps history of I’homme machine, focusing on fictional representation of creatures that consist of both human and technological “parts.” Goal is to discern source of fascination and sociopolitical mechanism behind evocation of “human machine.” Prerequisites: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.