*** Call for papers - Geographies of Science Fiction - Edited collection ***
Editors Rob Kitchin and James Kneale
-- sorry for cross posting --
Dear all,
We are exploring the idea of an edited collection examining the geographies
of science fiction to be published by Athlone Press. To date, the
spatialities of science fiction writing, film and television has been
little examined. However, such a venture may be instructive as much
science fiction holds a mirror to both present-day socio-spatial relations
and the possibilities of future reconfigurings. Indeed, as many
commentators note, much science fiction cannot be easily dismissed as 'pure
flights of imagination' due to the recursive relationships that have
developed between authors and academic scientists, professional engineers,
computer programmers, social scientists, politicians, musicians and
'lifestyle communities': science fiction draws from theories and
technologies of the present to predict the future and, moreover, have
already influenced present-day society. A reading of science fiction
reveals that a wide variety of geographies are examined within the
narratives including:
· virtual, intergalactic and fantastical geographies;
· space, surveillance and governance;
· urban landscapes;
· economic landscapes;
· space, reality and virtuality;
· disembodied/embodied/other-embodied geographies; cyborging.
· socio-cultural geographies (e.g. gender, race, sexuality);
· identity, community and social relations;
· environmental futures.
· space-time relations.
· spaces of SF texts and audiences
If you are interested in contributing a chapter to this proposed book we
would be grateful if you could contact us as soon as possible, outlining
what your contribution might examine. At this point, we wish to keep the
agenda quite open and to see what people think and are willing to offer.
We appreciate that few people will be conducting empirical research, but
know that many geographers read science fiction and there might be scope
for translating ideas in current work to explore science fiction geographies.
Thanks,
Rob Kitchin and James Kneale
=========================================================
Dr Rob Kitchin,
Department of Geography,
National University of Ireland,
Maynooth,
County Kildare,
Ireland.
Tel: +353 1 708 3372
Fax: +353 1 708 3573
Alt. E-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.may.ie/staff/rkitchin/
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