Week 13 Reflection yay

Lindsay Harris

COMM 3824-01

4/10/19

Comm 3824 Reflection 11

            This week brought a new dimension to the way we view our environment and actions regarding societal behaviors and practices. While science fiction typically forces us to look to the future in a way that seems unrealistic, the materials for this week linked these concepts in science fiction to the real world in an incredibly cohesive way. Reading Jansma’s article about Octavia Butler in addition to reading part of The Parable of the Sower was helpful and eye-opening as reading about Butler’s story became more intriguing after learning about her mindset and intentions with her work. Butler’s story in which the “apocalypse” has come is almost humorous as her version of the apocalypse is basically what real life for us is today. On the other hand, reading Corbin’s article about the social and cultural ramifications from a movie like “Black Panther” in which black communities are showcased in a light far more complimentary than in today’s society made me reevaluate how I thought about that movie. I feel silly thinking that architecture and introducing community restoration/beautification projects usually leads to the displacement of low income families. Additionally, the video on Indigenous People’s showed me how white folk take the reputation and relationship through colonization of native people and twist it into what they want it to be. By depicting native people as serene and romanticizing them, the brutality with which these native people were faced with is brushed under the rug completely.

            Even though science fiction is intended to make consumers think of the what-if’s and take them to a far away land, this week science fiction became a large source of anxiety for me. Octavia Butler’s frightening predictions about our grim future, as well as the short film Pumzi made me nervous about the future of our society if we continue the practices and behaviors which we use today. Coming from California, for a majority of my life I have become accustomed to doing certain things to try and compensate for our drought. In doing so, when I was younger I was always weary that one day we might run out of water entirely. While this idea may be far-fetched to some, it is all to prevalent while walking around neighborhoods that have dead lawns and always seeing people turn off the faucets unless they are directly using them (something that surprised me when I came to New Orleans, seeing as people just let the water run). I also think it’s interesting how Wakanda in the movie “Black Panther” not only makes for an exciting concept as a movie watcher, but also a social and cultural statement in terms of architecture and community make-up. Furthermore, the video on indigenous people was upsetting, as I can’t imagine how hard it is to live in a country where people ignore the harsh treatment of your ancestors. But it is interesting to see how video games and pop culture are giving indigenous people an opportunity to take back the ability to control how the rest of the country sees them.

Afrofuturism: A method of storytelling which includes African American history and culture, which are underrepresented in science fiction.

Green gentrification: When green space creation, restoration, and beautification projects in Black neighborhoods attract wealthy white populations who raise the cost of housing and displace the long term and low-income families of color.

DEI: Diversity, equity, and inclusion.