Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The 12th Carnival Is Up @ Hathor Legacy/Books. Got Brown ? Reflects on aspects of a recent six year online conversation on race in SF.
Faces of Color
PoC in SF Carnival - IBARW Special Edition
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Like last year, this year has a Special Edition Carnival devoted to recapping International Blog Against Racism Week, started by Oyceter @ Livejournal.
The issue notes a generalized percentage of 50% POC participation this year. As someone also involved in bringing awareness that there are POC and POC issues online, in geekdom and specifically SFdom, those numbers are heartening.
Oycter notes she needs better outreach to Latin@s and that her goal for next year is more input from non-Western, non-American participants to get their points of view. And it's a reminder to me that I should keep up Faces of Colour as a visual reminder that the people involved in creating and promoting Speculative Fiction come from all countries, skin colours, ethnicities and cultures.
Go and check it out. I'm sure there are things missed during the week back in August. I know I still have some tabs bookmarked to get back to and I saw a few links I'd missed entirely.
The next Carnival will be hosted in December by Delux_Vivens @ DeadBroWalking. The theme "Men of Colour in Speculative Fictions.". There's more than enough time for you to write something and submit for the carnival with a link via her livejournal address or to my email for me to forward it.
Labels: admin, issue, special_issue
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The 11th People of Colour in Sci Fi & Fantasy Blog Carnival had part one up on July 2nd; The Eye of the Beholder. It was a discussion that went on for a few days about things PoC see as representative of themselves that all too often are used in SF worlds to represent the alien. There's a bit near the end about characters coded as black or who could be interpreted as black. Honestly, I would have loved to get more information on characters that are coded NDN, or Asian (East or South) among other groups.
Part two of the Carnival is out. It's quieter and much much smaller than the discussion that preceded it. But it speaks of that unique, sometimes warped visibility as well, with a piece by Ciderpress of Livejournal who gives one voice to the set that was missing. Ciderpress talks of degrees of othering and alienation.
... there are times when *everything* I do is regarded as exotic, as 'foreign', as East Asian for a given value of "East Asian". And it's not just the stuff I do that's not "default" or "normal" for society at large, it's the normal stuff I do that lots of white people in society do, too.
Part two of the 11th Carnival also involves links to STEAMFASHION and a member there who discusses his interpretation of the fashion and the genre and how he tries to pull in aspects of imperialism and colonialism and the native cultures lost or dominated by them. So seriously check out the piece by lj user Anachronaut. His costuming is beautiful and provocative and thoughtful and his comments in threads at the link are just as insightful.
And finally there's Bibliophile Stalker on WordPress about The Philippines In Western Speculative Fiction.
Check it out.
But to the Carnival I'd like to add a few links
Debunking White Fantasy by Bankuei. His entry brought up aspects I hadn't realized I'd absorbed when it came to PoC representation on SF. Which is that all too often the PoC characters or the nation representing them are ghettoized/marginalized into having cultural markers, stereotypical markers, that say 'this is what a PoC culture is' / 'this is who PoC are' no matter what. Whereas white characters aren't limited to being from mock Northen European cultures. They can come from anywhere and be anything.
Complimentary to that entry is one by Naamen, Terminology - Savagification! I think the title itself is the best summary as to what that's about. Combined with Naamen's other essay Hollywood Stop Whitening Characters! No Really! Stop It! and in particular the link and quotes within it regarding Neil Gaiman's Anasi Boys.
Can you see the picture being drawn? About how PoC in SF, if represented at all among the 'normal' Northern European background and characters; they are Other, Exotic and quite often Savage (as in the savage enemy).
Next: IBARW & The WoC & Beauty Carnival. The PoC in SF Carnival will return in September.
Labels: issue
Thursday, July 3, 2008
POC In Sci-Fi Carnival #11 - The Eye Of The Beholder
‘Human beings fear difference,’ Lilith had told him once. ‘Oankali crave difference. Humans persecute their different ones, yet they need them to give themselves definition and status.'
-- Octavia Butler's Xenoginis - Adulthood Rites, P80-81
Hosted on Livejournal by Abydosangel, the 11th Carnival focuses on things the media uses to demonstrate or mark characters and environments as Alien or Other that to POC are common place and everyday. How what makes us, us becomes alien culture, or signs of alien being and self. Making our cultural signifiers all about "a stranger in a strange land."
This 11th Carnival has a different format than usual. Discussion is open now in comments and the main entry will be edited to show submitted links (which can be added via comment or emailed to the host). The deadline for submitting links found online or links to your own thoughts in an essay format is JULY 18th 2008.
I admit to finding it an unusual format, but one I think works for this Carnival's theme and topic. This Carnival is about PoC discussing this othering in the genre and for Allies to discuss how they absorbed these perceptions, or began to see past them, or need help realizing them.
Please go look, read Abydosangel's thoughts, think and SAY SOMETHING.
Labels: issue
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Much belated due to moving and general spaciness I wasn't online to publicize the 10th PoC SF Carnival graciously hosted by Karnuthia @ LJ.
Short but sweet and satisfying, this Carnival focused on PoC In YA Fiction.
Two bits that stand out in particular are Saskaia's wonderful piece about Twilight character Jacob Black: "Could Have Been More Than A Metaphor" that was picked up for discussion in the blog American Indians In Children's Literature.
And then there's Oyceter, a voracious reader of POC literature, and her huge list of works with details and recommendations of fiction involving PoC or written by PoC in Young Adult Lit.
If you missed the Carnival this time because you were looking for this post - my apologies. But go take a look now! :)
And don't forget we're always looking for new hosts. Please contact me.
Labels: issue
ANOUNCEMENT: 9th PoC in SF Carnival!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
ANOUNCEMENT: 9th PoC in SF Carnival!
Go see the Carnival!. Read! Be educated! Become aware!
There's an interplay between art and speculative fiction and how we, poc, see ourselves vs how we are seen that makes me think thinky thoughts about that application in fiction.
There's also a history lesson about Bengali SciFi. BENGALI! If your mind is blown with yay, go find :)
NB: I have had a problem using the term NW for individuals. I've discovered I'm more comfortable saying NWP - it feels less like I'm shouting some equivalent of n***** and more like I'm discussing a huge swathe of the earth's population. But I, like the current, host invite everyone to define themselves how they wish in comments to the Carnival
Friday, February 29, 2008
The 8th Carnival, people!
You have no idea how much squee and joy this brings me. This Carnival is about dialogue between PoC. Intra-Racial Dialogue; What Lies Between Us is up at LadyJax at Livejournal.
Kali921, now would be a good time to bring out that promo post you lost from last month, update it some and swing it round and 'round.
This 8th Carnival has PoC discussing being PoC and SF fans. It's a lot of Meta, a lot of thinking. And while it may no longer be filled with conversations you (general) knew nothing about - given that discussions on race and SF and fans seems to be happening more and more - it is a perspective that's internal and unique.
Go, read.
I'll be back later to update the archives.
[ Still looking for a HOST for March = Contact Me ]
Friday, January 25, 2008
It's the 7th People of Colour in Science Fiction / Fantasy Carnival.
We've been going for half a year. I'm amazed and happy and awestruck and other sap.
Thank you for participating (don't forget to contact me to host) and reading and promoting.
Anyone want to make icons for the livejournal / insanejournal people among the readers? :)
I'm hoping we continue as successfully as possible during 2008.
And now, the carnival: ENOUGH @ SEEKING AVALON
Monday, December 17, 2007
The 6th People of Colour in Science Fiction / Fantasy Carnival is up at deadbrowalking @ livejournal.
The theme - Sankofa in Space.
Truth be told I haven't even finished reading all the great links from the 5th Carnival. But I urge you to bookmark this one if you can't go read, skim and interact immediately.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The 5th People of Colour in Scifi & Fantasy Blog Carnival is up @ Shewhohashope's livejournal. It's a little late, but given the holiday season, the flu season and near end of year exhaustion, we can all handwave that.
This issue is really embracing the multiculturalness behind the phrase people of colour. There's Maori legend, Chinese legend, Anime, Manga, Bollywood and more, in areas all over from film to fandom essays.
Please head over, read, and thank Shewhohashope. She's done a lovely job of gathering links. Now you can bring the commentary.
Next Carnival will be the 6th and will be held by Delux-Vivens' @ livejournal's DeadBroWalking. The 7th will be held at Seeking Avalon.
If you're interested in hosting in the New Year 2008, please contact me.
PS: Don't forget to promote the carnival in your journal or blog. The more readers the better!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
It's short but sweet. The 4th People of Colour Scifi & Fantasy Carnival is UP!
October seems like it was one thing after another and some have commented that the rock has been pushed over and now we see what was wriggling underneath.
But I'd like to think that it says something important and powerful that there are so many raising loud voices to point out ignorance and idiocy.
Please go have a look. There are copious link lists.
5th Carnival to be hosted by Shewhohashope @ Livejournal
6th Carnival to be hosted by Delux Vivens @ Livejournal
Friday, September 28, 2007
The third People of Color in Scifi & Fantasy Carnival will be up @ Bellatrys Livejournal in a matter of hours.
Please, please go take a look. I was lucky enough to get a preview and it's a very interesting collection of links and commentary, noting everything from Victorian attitudes on the Dark Continent to the treatment of Characters of Color in Boy's Love Manga.
And she mentioned Coptic Art!I'll edit in a link once everything is It's live.
October has a host but I haven't heard back from the people who said they'd be interested in November & December. So, any takers?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
The Second Carnival is up.
It's been an interesting month for People of Colour.
Everyone please go check it out and thank Wychwood for all her hard work. Read and tell your friends and get them to tell their friends.
Tiny Note: In recent discussions there has been conflict over the general use of the term 'people of colour' and the lack of the use of the term 'non-white'. If my choice disagrees strongly enough with someone that they choose not to participate then I'm sorry for the loss. Usage Note: Dissatisfaction with the implications of nonwhite as a racial label has doubtless contributed to the recent popularity of the term person of color and others, such as woman of color, with the same construction. In effect, person of color stands nonwhite on its head, substituting a positive for a negative. It is interesting that the almost exclusive association in American English of colored with Black does not carry over to terms formed with "of color," which are used inclusively of most groups other than those of European origin. See Usage Notes at colored, nonwhite. 1, 2
Thursday, July 12, 2007
It's short but hopefully sweet, after almost a month of offline/real life complications that delayed it, the first issue of The People of Color SF Carnivalis up at Seeking Avlon on LiveJournal.
It was now or never.
I'm hoping people are still excited about it.