bib·li·o·file: Recent Work in Literary Studies

Stitch

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Here’s everything we’re reading in my Monday night class from now until the end of the semester. Sadly, none of these books are available for free so all I can offer are (affiliate) links to the kindle version on Amazon which is what I’m using for class.

Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting  by Sianne Ngai

Hyperobjects: Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World (Posthumanities) by Timothy Morton

Forms: Whole, Rhythm, Hierarchy, Network by Caroline Levine

Slavery and the Culture of Taste by Simon Gikandi

The Limits of Critique by Rita Felski

Loving Literature: A Cultural History by Deidre Shauna Lynch

A bonus is the book I’m using for my second assignment and one that I never pass up the chance to make obnoxious noises about: Glen Weldon’s The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture.

Once I get my syllabi and books for my other two classes, I’ll put up posts for them. Right now though, I’m just really pleased with the reading list for this class!

“Holy Homosexual Batman”: A Reference List

Stitch
Batman and Robin Boatride
Panel from Batman #13 (1942)

For my critical literary theory course during my first semester of grad school,  I did a final paper looking at applications of queer theory as it applies to textual and subtextual queer perceptions of Batman.

You know, because I just love a challenge and the fun of blending my fannish interests with my academic ones.

At the end of it all, I came up with “Holy Homosexual Batman”: Queering the Caped Crusader via Text and Subtext. It was almost thirty pages long and super in-depth to make up for the fact that my professor wasn’t a comic person and needed introduction to the genre’s history and culture.

It is, in a word, my baby.

I have so many plans for this paper that it’s ridiculous.

I mentioned from the start that I wanted to share my list of references for y’all to look at and purchase from if you’re interested in working out your own academic thoughts on queerness as related to Batman and Robin. So if you’re interested, continue on!

(Note that all of the links to Amazon are affiliate links so consider buying some books, y’all!)

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Lamplickers – Original Fiction

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Moth @ Night
Image from here on Flickr. 

Note: “Lamplickers” is a colloquial term for “moth” that I grew up hearing in the US. Virgin Islands. Additionally, this story was previously published on Patreon for my patrons.

Plink.

Plink.

The lamplickers down on the island always swarm around the house when it gets dark outside. At least, they’ve done this on some level on every night in the week since I moved into my late grandparents’ house overlooking heart-shaped Magen’s Bay.

Drawn by some unfathomable instinct, they fling themselves at the windows of my room as if their weight alone will shatter the shutters and let them in. Some of them don’t survive. They ram into the window with so much force that they leave streaks of dark fluid smeared across the glass as their tiny bodies drop to the ground.

Sometimes, early in the morning when the sun has barely peeked over the top of the walls, the neighborhood chickens and sparrows eat the half-squashed bugs before the stray cats try to rush them in turn. The gardener, when he comes by hours later, will clear up the rest.

For now though, at night, the lamplickers keep coming.Read More »

[Book Review] The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson

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The DQ of VB CoverTitle: The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe
Author: Kij Johnson
Rating: Recommended
Genre/Category: Fantasy, Multiverses, Alternate Worlds, Adventure, Lovecraftian Horror
Release Date: August 16, 2016

Publisher: Tor.com

Order Here: AMAZON | AMAZON (KINDLE) | BARNES AND NOBLE

Note: I received a free copy of this novella from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All of the views in review are my own which should be clear because no other weirdo would admit to their desire to fist-fight Lovecraft as often as I do.

Normally, I stay far away from stories inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and his writings because they do far too much reinforcing and celebrating Lovecraft’s racism and misogyny and not enough subversion of the tropes in his work. But there’s something so amazing about Kij Johnson’s The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe that makes me want to read more of these purposefully subversive takes on Lovecraft’s work.

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Urban Fantasy 101 – Allegory Overuse (ft. Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series)

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Content warnings: this installment of Urban Fantasy 101 contains very brief mentions historical acts of oppression (largely in vague terms), sexual assault and pedophilia in Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, as well as more indepth references to anti-Black and anti-Native racism in the same series.

Allegory Overuse

There’s nothing wrong with a good allegory.

At all.

Unfortunately, there’s this thing that happens where writers use an allegory that mimics or calls back to real world oppression that constantly rubs me the wrong way

Keep in mind that I actually don’t mind the use of allegories in fiction. In fact, I think they can be useful. Some of my favorite works of speculative fiction focus on supernatural figures dealing with oppression due to what they are, after all.

However, many writers who use allegories then kind of overuse them at the expense of portraying nuanced representations of actual or “real world” oppression.

Whatever your reasoning, chances are that if you’re a paranormal romance, urban (or general) fantasy, or science fiction author, you’ve used an allegory that mimics or calls back to an instance of real world oppression.

However, there’s definitely a lot to be said about the very many authors who think that that supernatural form of race-based oppression is the only thing they have to do. They don’t think deeper.Read More »

Nyota Uhura: One More Black Female Character Fandom Wants To Be Strong and Single Forever

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Uhura Telegraph
Image taken from the Telegraph photo gallery “Star Trek cast past and present“.

I need White Feminism (which exists to benefit whiteness and white womanhood) to stop telling me that Black female characters are better off when they’re single.

I need White Feminists ™ in fandom to stop pretending that they’re protecting or promoting Iris West/Nyota Uhura/Abbie Mills/Eve Moneypenny by wanting these Black female characters to stay single and “strong” forever, pushing them away from the potential of canon romances with white male characters.Read More »

Serious Stitch Stuff

Stitch

So for the past few months I’ve been working as the editorial assistant for a set of professors working on putting out a business manual with Routledge. This morning, the professor in charge of the project sent in the manuscript which means that, barring further complications with the project or him hiring me for another one, I no longer have a job.

Somehow, I didn’t realize that you know… them finishing the manuscript would put my job on hold (or straight up get rid of it) for the foreseeable future. I have I think two more checks coming because of the way the pay period is set up, but that’s all the money I’ll have until the beginning of September at the absolute earliest outside of any freelance jobs or commissions I manage to get and finish.

As I have been using the money from this job to help my family pay for rent on top of paying my own bills, this is kind of terrible.

That being said, if you like any of my writing (and if you’re following me on any of my social media sites or my blog, I should hope you do) here are some ways that you can help me out.

I have A PATREON PAGE that you can subscribe to at one of three different tiers in order to have access to audio posts, short fiction, and lots of stories that center queer characters of color.

You can donate directly to me VIA PAYPAL

Or you can use THIS KO-FI LINK to “tip” me if you read something you like from me and want to throw a little money my way

If flinging money at me isn’t your thing, you can also legit hire me to write or edit things for you.

I have lots of experience with both writing and editing fiction and as long as you give me firm deadlines, I’ll make them. On top of that, my recent experience as an editorial assistant on a Routledge book gives me added experience in editing things like creative nonfiction and business manuals.

If you’re someone running a website (or who knows someone that is) that needs content, I’m also available to write articles on pop culture, race, gender, and superheroes. If you know of a site that needs a Black feminist view on pop culture like the upcoming Luke Cage series and fandom (and is willing to pay on the regular), I’m your Stitch.

If you want to hire me or find out my rates for writing fiction, writing articles, and editing anything here’s my blog’s CONTACT PAGE. You can find examples of my article writing style in posts like THIS and THIS and HERE’S an in-progress page with the fiction I’m posting on my main site (as the majority of my writing is on Patreon). I can also provide you with a copy of my CV if you’re really interested in hiring me for a long-term project or a serious position.

Please share this post with anyone y’all think might be even remotely interested in supporting me, a queer Black writer who looks critically at media, fandom, and feminism, as I struggle to keep doing what I’m good at while taking care of my family.

Urs

Stitch

Radioplay Day: The Shadow – “The Creeper”

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Shadow_CD_(Vol_II)Download Link: The Creeper

Airdate: May 29, 1938

Main Characters/Actors: The Shadow/Lamont Cranston (Orson Wells), Margot Lane (Margot Stevenson)

In “The Creeper”, Orson Welles is only in his early twenties as he voices the Shadow/Lamont. Before the end of the year, he’ll leave the role for bigger things. I think though, that without him taking up the Shadow before anyone else could step into his shows, he set the stage for the rest of the series and made it possible for the character to take the world by storm.

“The Creeper” is one of those episodes of The Shadow radioplay that I have always liked even as it stressed me out. Orson Welles has a lot to do with this.Read More »

Here’s what you can expect from me in August

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Okay so I’m going back to school near the end of the month which means that my writing time will shrink down immensely. So I’m trying to figure out ways to provide y’all with good stuff and still do well with my classes and general mental health.

First,  for general blog consumption:

  • I’m still working on the queer (coded) Joker piece (and will probably incorporate some aspects of the Suicide Squad film’s portrayal of the character if I see it) so hopefully that will be done this month.
  • The reference list for my big Batman paper so that interested followers can do their own digging.
  • A post about Black pain in the MCU (and how canon and fandom suck at dealing with it)
  • Urban Fantasy 101: Allegory Overuse
  • Letter to the Author: Matt Wallace
  • Breaking and Entering (provided that the art I commissioned is done by the end of the month)
  • Lamplickers – a little horror story set in the Caribbean (formerly Patreon Exclusive)
  • Radioplay Day – “The Creeper”
  • A Batman vs Superman themed giveaway (because I have a digital code and an amazon gift card set aside)

For Patreon peeps (and seriously, you should consider subscribing)

First of all, I’m not sure when the lesbian sirens story will happen because it’s just getting super long. I’m replacing it with something shorter and fluffier, but it’s still on the table for upcoming months. Additionally, I’m going to put a hold on both Adventures in Accidental Demon Summoning and The Consort until I get more written because I’m catching up with my backlog and it’s stressful.

But there will still be good content!

For $1+ Patrons

  • Urban Fantasy 101: Werewolf White Supremacy
  • Radioplay Day – Blue Beetle episode 1
  • The Great Big Anita Blake ReRead – Guilty Pleasures
  • An advance look at my review for “The Dream Quest of Vellit-Boe” from Tor
  • The specific “Lord, Laurell K Hamilton is bad about race” post (maybe)

For $5+ Patrons:

  • To Stand and Fight – Comet City Stories
  • Outsider – a short story about a witch from the “wrong” side of San Sirena (from the same universe as The Insomniac)

For $10+ Patrons:

  • Y’all are getting “Four Flights” a short (ish) superhero story about growing into power and responsibility with a QWOC main character and lots of punching

Additionally, there’ll be at least one audio post about fandom and a video review of something (I’m thinking Tarzan because it’s so horrible and hilarious).

I’d really appreciate any support y’all can give me because I’m working really hard and super stressed out by a lack of response. If you all can share my writing and support me when you can, that’d be awesome.

The Pup – Original Fiction

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Killer Whale

Kabi didn’t mean to adopt a killer whale pup.

Note: A shorter version of this piece was originally hosted on Patreon!

Kabi didn’t mean to adopt a killer whale pup.

She’d been swimming several leagues from the village, chasing her own tail in lazy circles as she kept an eye out for any predators too pumped up on hunger to realize that a selkie was an entirely different creature when compared to a seal.

And then, she saw it it.

The shadow of a massive whale gliding just above her head.

At first glance, Kabi was quick to assume that it’s a narwhal, one member of the playful pod that often hung around her people. Then, she noticed the lack of a horn and, shortly after that, the rounded, black and white body that reminded her of the dolphins that the slimmer, sleeker selkies in the South Seas often played with.

At the sight of the killer whale, Kabi’s body locked up as fear sped up her spine.Read More »

Let’s Stop Giving The Killing Joke More Credit Than It Deserves

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Batgirl and Oracle (1)

Content warnings for references to sexual trauma (assault and torture) in the text and in linked posts, ableism, a brief mention of fandom racism (specifically antiblackness towards Luke Fox) and a mention of transmisogyny in Batgirl #37. There are no images from The Killing Joke (comic or animated film) or the Joker in the body of this post.

I reject the idea that “The Killing Joke” is necessary in order to have Barbara become Oracle.

I also reject the idea that the Joker “created” Oracle.

Disability representation is incredibly important, that’s why DC’s retcon of Barbara’s many years as Oracle struck a blow to many disabled comic book readers. I won’t fight against that. I also won’t pretend that the Batgirl of Burnside series didn’t have its own problems (such as the ableist cure-all that carried over from Gail Simone’s run and problems that were unique to the run such as the transmisogyny in issue #37).

But what I will fight against is the way that DC comics and its fanbase won’t let go of The Killing Joke and how they insist on tying it to Oracle as a symbol or moment of empowerment when it really isn’t.Read More »

Fear of Fucking Up: Not Actually A Good Excuse For Erasing Characters of Color

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Fear of Fucking Up - Writing Header (1)
Recently, there’s been a spate of fannish and original writers claiming that they’re so afraid of negative reception and responses from people of color, that they refrain from writing characters of color in their works.

We saw this during Amy Lane’s racist mess (where she wrote a book that had a black character refer to himself as a monkey) where dozens of M/M authors rushing to defend her claimed that POC were so scary and aggressive in defending themselves from racism that they were perpetuating (racial slurs as “cute” petnames and objectification in droves) that they’d never be writing characters of color again.

We also saw it a couple months ago in fandom where BNF Franzeska decided that the best response to Black fans pointing out racism towards Finn in Star Wars to write thousands of words of white washed fandom history that contained comments about how we (people of color willfully misidentified as white social justice warriors jonesing for ally cookies) were why they weren’t writing Finn.

Her post claimed that white writers were terrified of being accused of racism for… constantly imbuing their Finn-characterization with stereotypes of black masculinity and objectifying Finn’s body.

I still see my fellow fans of color dealing with that shit now, damn near three months after all of the work Black fans and anti-racist allies put into writing and talking about fandom’s racism. It’s still a thing that I see people claiming as if researching and respecting characters and people of color in fandom is so damn difficult!

These authors’ excuse for unbroken whiteness in their fiction appears to be that it’s downright terrifying to imagine people of color who’ve asked for characters like them to be written responsibly getting annoyed with racist portrayals of these characters of color.

You know, because it’s all about hurt white feelings in the end and it’s more upsetting to be confronted about their racism than to be confronted by racism.

Read More »

Urban Fantasy 101 – It’s A Heteronormative World Out There

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Heteronormative World.png

Notes: Content warnings for brief (but nondescriptive) mentions of sexual assault, mentions of homophobia in the text and a linked article), and just general heterocentrism/heterosexism.

One of the recurring tropes common to the urban fantasy genre is the idea that certain species have one “opposite sex” soulmate that is absolutely perfect for them and when they meet (or, more commonly, bang) for the first time, all of the pieces slot into place and their biology shifts so that they can have babies.

This focus on soulmates (often just “mates”) in urban fantasy has so much wasted potential behind it.

Instead of opening the concept of “mating” up to queer characters or characters in polyamorous relationships, these universes typically center mating and relationships on heterosexual and monogamous couples (with the occasional “these two werebears are my mates and also brothers as not to squick bigots who want to read polyamory but not that kind of polyamory” thrown in just to be frustrating).

I’m going to use specific examples here with Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series (of course) and Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Mist and Fury (which is just regular fantasy, but still more recent than most of the stuff I usually reference). I’ll also be talking about some other book series and author examples (both positive and negative).Read More »