DECOLONISING THE UNIVERSE
Counter-Hegemonic Approaches to Writing Sci-Fi, Superhero, and Futurist Fiction
MASTERCLASS
Date: Sunday 29th October 2023
Time: 17.00-20.00 GMT (3 hours)
Location: Online (Zoom)
Cost: 60 USD
DESCRIPTION
The history of genre fiction—particularly sci-fi and superhero narratives—has long been dominated by hegemonic narratives that glorify masculinity, imperialism, and colonial narratives. But as writers from the periphery increasingly make their voices heard, there is an opportunity to subvert these genres to speak truth to power.
Designed for writers from around the world who may be interested in exploring genre fiction from an alternative perspective, this three-hour masterclass provides insight, history, writing exercises, discussions, and practical approaches that can prompt ideas and develop narratives for emerging and established writers alike to carry forward in their work.
Targeted at writers of short stories, novels, or graphic novels, the masterclass is composed of two modules delivered over the course of a single three-hour session:
● Module 1: Mythology, superheroes, and the subversion of the genre.
● Module 2: Sci-fi and futurist writing in the service of resistance.
INSTRUCTORS
Image by Valentina D’ettorre
Saleem Haddad was born in Kuwait City to an Iraqi-German mother and a Palestinian-Lebanese father. His first novel, ‘Guapa’ (2016), was awarded both a Stonewall Honour and the 2017 Polari First Book Prize. His short stories have appeared in several anthologies, including the Palestinian sci-fi anthology ‘Palestine +100’ (Comma Press), and his story was subsequently re-published in an anthology of the best sci-fi stories of 2019.
Illustration by Amy Chiniara
Yazan al-Saadi is a Syrian-Canadian writer, researcher, critic, and comic zealot. Currently based in the alluring (yet callous) city of Beirut, he has been involved in publishing two graphic novels, “Where to, Marie? Stories of Feminisms in Lebanon” and “Cardboard Camp: Stories of Sudanese refugees in Lebanon” and has contributed several features and dispatches for the Eisner-award winning, “The Nib”. His first collection of journalistic comics will be published by Penn State University Press in 2024.