Rites of Passage

This podcast is part of the LGBTQIA+ Fantastika Graphics Symposium.
Join the discussion on discord (https://discord.gg/XwrFvMEJc8) or on our zoom webinar on 20 Nov 2021. See fantastikajournal.com for details.

Background music by scottholmesmusic.com

Podcast by:  Afia Graham

Rites of Passage:

Worldbuilding of Inclusive Societies in Far Future SF

This podcast starts the conversation about the representation of relationships in the far future. The speaker in the process of writing a generational ship narrative that includes a ‘thruple’ and for this society, it’s not considered anything remarkable. It’s not remarked upon by anyone. Is that a general expectation of the future? What will be considered the ‘norm’? Will an LGBTQIA+ designation be understood in the same way and if it isn’t, what about the world that is built would be powering that change? Does creating a future in which labels no longer exist just brush over the struggles of now? Is it better or worse to imagine a future without it? How would humanity evolve when and if we are space dwellers? Is there such a thing as ‘the perfect genetic make up’ or what genetic iterations do we need to live on another planet?   The speaker also wants to consider the process of ‘coming out’. For some, it’s a massive moment and others don’t see the need. What would a new rite of passage be for the community? 

In their original work, Afia Graham's ‘thruple’ consists of two men and a woman. One of the men is Black and that leads to questions of race in the LGBTQ community. How important is representation in this sphere and is SF the best place to start the debate because the future is fantastical enough to not lead to anger, while at the same time being familiar enough to inspire change?  Is the  representations due to a lack of diversity in the writer (and consumers of the genre) and if so, how do we build a world that inspires inclusivity now and in the future.

About the Speaker: My name is Afia Graham (she/her) and I’m a PhD student at Lancaster University. I’m devoted to my family and I am the Reviews Editor for Shoreline of Infinity, in Edinburgh.  I’m obsessed with comics in TV and films, with a soft spot for the MCU, SG1 and Battlestar Galactica.

Disclaimer: The information and ideas in these podcasts are the property of the speakers. Fantastika Journal operates under the Creative Commons Licence CCBY-NC. This allows for the reproduction or transcription of podcasts for non-commercial uses, only with the appropriate citation information. All rights belong to the author.

The views expressed in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Fantastika Journal and its editorial board.

This podcast edited by Kerry Dodd