Class combines Native American literature and sci-fi

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Students will have the opportunity to explore Native Americans and science fiction this December intersession through a new genre of literature.

The new intersession course, offered by the University College, examines the portrayal of Native Americans in science fiction literature and artwork, said Brian Hudson, a graduate student and the course’s professor.

Hudson said the class also studies science fiction works by Native American artists.

Futuristic Indians will be led online through the Department of English, said Hudson, who specializes in Native American literature.

“For Native sci-fi, there are going to be a lot of the same issues and concerns that run for Native [literature],” Hudson said. “Issues of identity, issues of political importance, particularly dispossession of land and there will also be issues of representation of how natives have been represented.”

He also said he hopes to dispel the myths of the vanishing native peoples.

Materials for the class will include “Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction” by Grace L. Dillon, “East of the Sun and West of Fort Smith” and “J” by William Sanders and “Robopocalypse: A Novel” by Daniel H. Wilson.

There also will be pieces of artwork and short films provided on D2L, Hudson said.

Micah Wormley

Micah Wormley, professional writing junior, is an opinion columnist and assistant online editor at The Oklahoma Daily. This is her second semester with the paper and the University of Oklahoma. She previously wrote as a campus reporter under the byline Mike Wormley. She is originally from St. Louis, MO, but said she calls Norman home.

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