Topic 3: If science fiction is a genre that imagines our future, what happens to gender and race?(you can apply this question to literary or cinematic sf)
1. A Future in Full Color: Issues of Race in Science Fiction
Reference
Gatlin, Erin, (2005) 'A Future in Full Color, Issues of Race in Science Fiction' Science Fiction Lab Spring 2005,
http://sciencefictionlab.lcc.gatech.edu/subTopicColor.html
(accessed 15 March 2011)
Summary
This online article, 'A Future in Full Color' Issues of Race in Science Fiction' talks about the change of race in science fiction. The article suggests it has been a long history for the White to rule the science fiction world, for example, Metropolis in 1927. These science fictions emphasized the White was the best and gave a bad impression towards coloured peoples, such as Blacks and Asians.
However, the situation changed after the Second Second War, or to be precise, in the Human Rights Movements. Instead of glorifying the Whites, equal racial relationship was greatly emphasized in fictions of that time.
The situation once again changed to be human versus technology in 1990's in afrofuturist movement. This movement makes human and technology essential parts in Science Fictions. Nowadays, the contribution of the race and science fiction has been a sub category under science fiction.
Therefore, the online article shows the changes made in three important periods. I do agree that the matters of racism and gender in science fiction are to a certain extent shifted to technology because technology really differentiates peoples now. People will discriminate more against people without computers instead of race.
2. Racism and Science Fiction
Reference
Delany, Samuel R., (1998) 'Racism and Science Fiction' The New York Review of Science Fiction NYRSF Issue 120,
http://www.nyrsf.com/racism-and-science-fiction-.html
(accessed 15 March 2011)
Summary
This is an article about authors writing science fiction are being discriminated as they are Black. The famous author, winning some recognised science fiction awards, suffers from vast discriminations like her name was not announced and the applaud of audience was so slight. The author was even named as 'Negro' which greatly emphasized her race negatively from her 'supporters'.
Having been published books for decades, the author summariesd what she has experienced. She said racial discrimination exists everywhere, including cyperpunk. She says so because racial discrimination has become a system with long history. It can even be said as a tradition. An example to show this is only 20 percent of the science fiction writers are Black, meaning they are minorities.
She thinks the only way to reduce racial discrimination is to create a anti-racist Community. However, it is a very sensitive issue as if race is mentioned, readers will not think it is Black and White, but, instead, White to Non-White peoples.
Racism is a very touchy issue and not easy to be got rid of. I believe that racism in science fictions can be changed when there are more black writers as they can bring their thoughts to counter balance racism in the real world.
3. Race in Science Fiction
Reference
Irving, Eoghann, (2005) 'Race in Science Fiction' Solar Flares: Science Fiction News
http://www.sflare.com/archives/race-in-science-fiction/
(accessed 15 March 2011)
Summary
'Race in Science Fiction' is about the comparison between reality and science fiction in terms of racial discrimination. The writer himself is a minority in the place he is living (He is a Scottish living in USA). Therefore, he says using Black in posters in films or TV does not solely mean that Black people are the only minority race, instead, it is a mere representation.
Since different races have different life styles, the reality demonstrates that TV and films companies are going to be constantly serving the majority mainly because the majority (White in this article) have no interest in Black to lead the TV shows. It is also correct in fictions that, when most writers are White, the main characters are supposed to be white. Female characters is another example besides black or minority.
Despite the racial concept in reality is hardly changed, the writer argues that change in science fiction is possible. It is possible to have more non-white writers to write science fictions. This is what the article is about.
This article shares the same view with the second article that science fiction can be a world to make the tradition change. I also agree with it.
4. Who Needs Feminist Science Fiction?
Reference:
Nestvold Ruth, Lake Jay, (2006) 'Who Needs Feminist Science Fiction?' The Internet Review of Science Fiction
http://www.irosf.com/q/zine/article/10285
(accessed 15 March 2011)
Summary
'Who Needs Feminist Science Fiction' is an online article talking about the changes of both the genre 'Feminist Science Fiction' and the author of science fiction.
First, the article mentions that Feminist Science Fictions played a very minor role before, as suggested by the number of 'only a fourth hugo award'.
The mode has been changed between 1926-1973 when the period was said to be a 'crucial moment of the feminist Science Fiction' because it has been explained in the article that originally all science fictions were targeted to male readers only. The concept has be reversed at that time. This shows the change of target audience of science fictions from females to males.
Second, the article mentions it is not important for who writes feminist science fiction and for whom to read feminist science fictions. Both male and female can be readers and writers. A 'Tiptree' award to a male writer in feminist writing is an example.
To sum up, under the genre of feminist science fiction, there is no exact boundaries for males and females. What is more important is, from the article, that whether the readers need it or not.
It is true to say that males can read feminists works. As what the previous two readings suggest, change can be made racially and I believe that it is the same in gender.
5. "These Are Not the Aliens You Are Looking For": Reflection on Race, Writing And Theory in Contemporary Science Fiction
Reference
Kelso Sylvia (2004) , "These are not aliens you are looking for,Reflection of race, writing and theory in contemporary science fiction" in David Ketterer, eds, Flashes of Fantastic, 'Selected Essays from War of the World Centennial Nineteenth International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts' United States of America: Praeger Publisher, pp. 65-76. http://www.google.com/books?hl=zh-TW&lr=&id=Xh5wFOn256wC&oi=fnd&pg=PA65&dq=race+in+science+fiction+future&ots=Q2huv0pWwr&sig=CerHlj6WdGRB4JAQTGQlJOCCWvY#v=onepage&q=race%20in%20science%20fiction%20future&f=false
(accessed on 15 March 2011)
Summary
This chapter of the book is about the role of race in science fiction. As a white, the writer also finds certain stereotype by her Australian accent. This is another type of administration.
She says why racial discrimination exists is since the most SF writers, especially around the First World War, were white-dominated They did not notice other races or even genders.
However, this type of stereotype has been changed from non-white people to aliens, which can eliminate all racial discriminations. Being off-Earth subjects, the aliens can be thought of being other 'subjects' against human.
Although the creation of the aliens can get rid of racial discrimination between black and white, The chapter says it is a reflection of colonialism.
It is colonialism that creates white, especially british, and non- white. While the distinction between human and aliens is made, this separation has the same hidden meaning, the feeling of being against other groups of living things.
The role of gender is also mentioned, but the main focus of the chapter is about the role of race. The creation of aliens is a continuation of racial discrimination.
It is correct to say that the colonialism has its effects because most directors are
white male. This may imply the concept of colonialism.
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