Feminism & Science Fiction

In her book, Living a Feminist Life, Sara Ahmed
writes, "Feminism as a collective movement is made
out of how we are moved to become feminists in
dialogue with others." In this spirit, 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
ecofeminisms, economics and art. 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. In
addition, we will look to film, performance and
music to see how artists are engaging feminist
ideas and critique in their work. 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
projects that carry forth a vision to build a
better world.