The Future Is Female; exploring Science Fiction and Women with Lisa Yaszek

Broadcast 10/17/2018 at 10:34 PM EDT (11 Listens, 8 Downloads, 3715 Itunes)
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Lisa Yaszek is an expert on women in Science fiction, and wrote the chapter on time travel for James Cameron's book, The Story of Science Fiction

Lisa Yaszek

Professor

Faculty Coordinator, SciFi@Tech

School of Literature, Media and Communication

Georgia Institute of Technology

.gatech.edu/lyaszek/

Lisa Yaszek is Professor of Science Fiction Studies in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, where she researches and teaches science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures. She is particularly interested in issues of gender, race, and science and technology in science fiction across media as well as the recovery of lost voices in science fiction history and the discovery of new voices from around the globe. Yaszek's books include The Self-Wired: Technology and Subjectivity in Contemporary American Narrative (Routledge 2002/2014); Galactic Suburbia: Recovering Women's Science Fiction (Ohio State, 2008); and Sisters of Tomorrow: The First Women of Science Fiction

She wrote the chapter on Time travel in James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction

Her newest book, just out, is The Future is Female: 25 Classic Science Fiction Stories by Women, from Pulp Pioneers to Ursula K. Le Guin

I hope you are right--that the future will be more female--more elected officials, more CEOs, etc.

You research and teach science fiction as a global language crossing centuries, continents, and cultures.

How big is the business of science fiction? I know a single movie can generate over a billion dollars. And I imagine game of thrones has produced over a billion in revenues for HBO. Same for walking dead. And George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney for over $4 billion.

First major SF book, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, 1818

First SF book, Kepler's Somnium

Women in Science Fiction

We are having a national discussion now, where people are suggesting that men are suggesting that young men are at great risk, as president Trump has stated.

You've written a book, Practicing Science Fiction. What does that mean?

And you have another book, The Self Wired: Technology and Subjectivity in Contemporary Narrative.

Self wired? What does that mean?

Apocalyptic fiction.

Post Patriarchy?

Anti corporate: Cyberpunk show corporations as a threat. William Gibson

Kameron Hurley's The Stars Are Legion, Pat Cadigan, Micha Noga--indigenous American cyberpunk, Nalo Hopkinson--Midnight Robber

Kim Stanley Robinson: described collective, bottom-up process in Mars Trilogy

What about politics and ideology and SF--are there patterns for viewers and fans?

Does SF tend to be more liberal or conservative?

You answer the question, what comes first SF prediction or the science they are based on

In a talk you gave about the Digital humanities , you discuss the Database as a cultural form, and how some see databases vs narratives as enemies

You've done a few books on women in sf writing. How have women affected SF and, through SF, our culture? It was pretty cool to learn that Leslie F. Stone inspired Isaac Asimov to start writing SF

What's the history of women in SF?

How did they influence it? Bring more character development, in addition to What-if big ideas. They force readers to make emotional connections, blending genres

Originally, the only role for women was as love interest or Alien queen. Female SF writers have given women many other roles. Astronaut Pamela Melray, an astronaut who commanded the space station said that Anne McCaffrey and Octavia Butler inspired her.

Powerful women and blacks, less than powerful white men.

Current state of women and gender in SF?

How did women affect or change science journalism?z

What about the role of Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.?

"The Handmaid's Tale and Other Science Fiction Stories to End Patriarchy." Playground Magazine, M

Why science fiction research?

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