Feminism & Science Fiction

In this feminist & science fiction class, we will think of our class as a conversation with one another, and with intersectional feminist theories and practices. What can we continue to learn from feminist histories? How can we use feminist practices for social and political change? And importantly, might feminism inform your practices as artists? Our study of U.S. and transnational feminisms will explore a history of ideas central to intersectional feminism and identify how the ideas are present in current discourse, debates, and politics. We will use an intersectional approach that takes gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship and ability as its starting point. Areas of study will include science fiction narratives inclusive of film, music, the novel, short story, poetry and video games. We will ask questions about identity, language and culture for how they can be sites of resistance and transformation. Together, we will read critical theory, manifestos, zines, essays, prose and poetry. Our methods of inquiry will include feminist practices as we circle in consciousness raising groups, make zines, write collaborative tracts, perform textual and artistic interventions and develop new science fiction projects that carry forth a vision to build a better world.