How Scifi/Afrofuturism can help us survive( the next four years) from Tananarive Due + Steven Barnes

[richardmurray]

 

THOUGHTS AS I VIEWED

 

0:03 Octavia Butler's grave is still standing, survived the fires
0:05 introductions by Steven Barnes + Tananarive Due
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0:09 Steven says Afro futurism is our, black peoples, flavor of science fiction
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0:11 
Science Fiction principles, one of three: what if, if only, if this goes on
0:15 How Steven Barnes met Octavia Butler
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0:16 
Butler said human beings are hierarchal, and people put themselves higher on the levels.
0:17 
At Clark university was the first black science fiction convention
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0:20 Octavia Butler was honest about the conditions and had a pessimism that she questioned into her work
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0:31 Steven says Creating art is a way of communicating things in words
0:32 Ray Bradbury, who didn't drive
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0:34 Steven felt Ray Bradbury's work was the warmest that he read Steven and his girlfriend at the time, took a story to Ray Bradbury . Great story on steven getting his first two letters from Ray Bradbury. 
0:36 Butler was penniless till an mcarthur grant. Steven admitted he wasn't interested in living in poverty. he had to compromise his own voice working with a team to make a wage.
0:39 It is funny, at times I am so serious. Many around me suggest I need to lighten up. Maybe I shall listen:) 
Ray Bradbury said: I don't believe in being serious about anything. I think life is too serious to be taken seriously. 
Tananarive said Butler became despondant at times. 
0:42 Bradbury's rules for writing. 
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Write short stories, quantity creates quality.
Tell the truth first
Don't think too hard, especially in the first draft.
Write what you love
Study the work of the masters, the work that has survived for generations
Take off the safety harness
Use every experience that touches you
Indulge in your own personal madness
Don't be afraid to write crap, either
Get comfortable with the idea of work
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0:50 Tananarive's work and Steven's work
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My thought: both writers visual examples display themes that reflect themselves. 
0:54 
Barnes said if you see a lack, you should write that lack
0:59 
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1:02 writing futurism course [ www.writerwebinar.com ] 
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1:04 they will teach how to teach
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1:07 marketing tools from Due and Barnes, and aids. Affordable. 
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1:10 stress and strain
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1:12  breathing, diaphragmatic breathing
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Questions and Answers
1:25 
Steven Barnes: if you are just by yourself, you have to take care of yourself. Morning ritual of movement gratitude, motion. 
1:28 They have a free zoom meeting every weekend
1:44 [ https://www.steven-barnes.com/live-classes ] 
steven barnes lion blood
https://a.co/d/aV8XTDJ

 

https://iloveafrofuturism.com/

 

[AmmaK]

I enjoyed this commentary and also appreciate the couple. 

 

For at least 20 years, I've avoided Octavia Butler books, telling myself , “I'm not into sci-fi.”  During that time I've also known the importance of her work and how imperative it would be for me to delve into it at some point.  Many years ago I purchased her book Kindred from a book sale. Having read the story line, it seemed like one I'd be able to get into when I was ready. 

 

Fast forward to January 2025, and I receive an invite from colleagues to join a book club for the reading of Parable of the Sower and an offer to pick up a copy of the text.   Interesting.  

 

I started reading Kindred a day before that email and am very much engrossed in the text. Afrofuturism is definitely the key to my ability to engage with sci-fi. I'm not sure how things will go with Parable of the Sower, but I did accept the invite and look forward to reading the book and discussing with others.   

[richardmurray]

@AmmaK thank you on sharing that story, i think for many black people it is like that.