Class Description
What is alien gender? How can a world of magic mirror queer experiences in the primary world? In this session, we'll explore questions of gender and sexuality in contemporary speculative fiction, moving beyond Ursula LeGuin's classic The Left Hand of Darkness. We’ll discuss the work of authors like Kim Stanley Robinson, Becky Chambers, Ann Leckie, Carmen Maria Machado, Aimee Bender, Brenda Peynado, and Andrea Lawlor, examining both queer representation in magical and speculative fictions and new ways of expressing gender and sexuality in imagined worlds. Students will work through a series of exercises designed to spur new ideas and deepen existing ones, before getting the chance to share brief examples of their work for on-the-spot feedback. Time will also be devoted to addressing the specific questions and concerns of the group.
This class is a part of the Speculative Fiction Series taught by Stephanie Brownell. The series also includes:
Speculative Fiction Series: Establishing Your World
Speculative Fiction Series: Retellings, Allegory, and Inspiration
This class will be hosted using live Zoom meetings! You will be able to participate in class via Zoom videoconference from wherever you’re most comfortable. All you’ll need is a laptop or a phone! About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting via Zoom–no need to download anything or sign up for Zoom in advance! If you have questions about remote learning, please feel free to reach out to [email protected] for more information.
For a glimpse at how remote learning works, look no further than the deep Zoom discussion of writing and literature below:
Scholarship Information
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. Please visit the Resources tab to access the video-conference link.
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!