English Literature Research Events: John Plotz In brief Guest speaker - Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) Chair - Dr Anna Vaninskaya (University of Edinburgh) Title - Science Fiction and the Anthropocene About the seminar This seminar with Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) and chaired by is Dr Anna Vaninskaya (University of Edinburgh) is organised jointly by the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network (EEHN), Edinburgh Futures Institute and the English Literature department at the University of Edinburgh. Find out more about the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network on their blog Browse Edinburgh Futures Institute's website Abstract For centuries, the satiric thrust of science fiction was oriented chiefly against an exaggerated sense of mankind’s importance ("do you think the world revolves around you?"). But the nature of that satire necessarily changed in the anthropocene, as writers struggled with the fact that humans truly had a world-altering and world-destroying capacity. That change is revealingly prefigured in the impact that Hiroshima and worldwide atomic destruction had on post-45 science fiction. This talk assesses science fiction's newfound capacity to satirise humanity’s destructive power, principally by way of N. K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, set in a world where people control and create earthquakes with their minds. It is drawn from a larger project, “Laughter is from Mars,” that traces the long anti-anthropocentric satirical tradition in science fiction. About the events series Each year, English and Scottish Literature hosts a variety of exciting research events featuring a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues. Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. Are you interested in a PhD in English Literature? We offer two PhDs: one in English Literature; and one in Creative Writing. Working with colleagues in LLC and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. Find out more about PhD study in English Literature Apr 06 2023 16.00 - 17.30 English Literature Research Events: John Plotz Join us in person for a seminar by Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) on how science fiction as a genre satirises humanity’s destructive power, focusing on N. K. Jemisin’s novel The Fifth Season. Room G.03 University of Edinburgh 50 George Square EH8 9LX Edinburgh Find the venue: 50 George Square
English Literature Research Events: John Plotz In brief Guest speaker - Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) Chair - Dr Anna Vaninskaya (University of Edinburgh) Title - Science Fiction and the Anthropocene About the seminar This seminar with Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) and chaired by is Dr Anna Vaninskaya (University of Edinburgh) is organised jointly by the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network (EEHN), Edinburgh Futures Institute and the English Literature department at the University of Edinburgh. Find out more about the Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network on their blog Browse Edinburgh Futures Institute's website Abstract For centuries, the satiric thrust of science fiction was oriented chiefly against an exaggerated sense of mankind’s importance ("do you think the world revolves around you?"). But the nature of that satire necessarily changed in the anthropocene, as writers struggled with the fact that humans truly had a world-altering and world-destroying capacity. That change is revealingly prefigured in the impact that Hiroshima and worldwide atomic destruction had on post-45 science fiction. This talk assesses science fiction's newfound capacity to satirise humanity’s destructive power, principally by way of N. K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, set in a world where people control and create earthquakes with their minds. It is drawn from a larger project, “Laughter is from Mars,” that traces the long anti-anthropocentric satirical tradition in science fiction. About the events series Each year, English and Scottish Literature hosts a variety of exciting research events featuring a fantastic range of guest speakers and colleagues. Events are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. Are you interested in a PhD in English Literature? We offer two PhDs: one in English Literature; and one in Creative Writing. Working with colleagues in LLC and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. Find out more about PhD study in English Literature Apr 06 2023 16.00 - 17.30 English Literature Research Events: John Plotz Join us in person for a seminar by Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) on how science fiction as a genre satirises humanity’s destructive power, focusing on N. K. Jemisin’s novel The Fifth Season. Room G.03 University of Edinburgh 50 George Square EH8 9LX Edinburgh Find the venue: 50 George Square
Apr 06 2023 16.00 - 17.30 English Literature Research Events: John Plotz Join us in person for a seminar by Professor John Plotz (Brandeis University) on how science fiction as a genre satirises humanity’s destructive power, focusing on N. K. Jemisin’s novel The Fifth Season.
