Class The Loft Presents If: Speculative Fiction: Making the Future Irresistible Harmony Neal We'll read speculative fiction stories from A People's Future of the United States, including authors A. Merc Rustad, Lizz Huerta, Charles Yu, and Tananarive Due. We'll draft similar stories of our own. The editors :asked for narratives that would challenge oppressive American … Continue reading Teaching at The Loft Starting Tuesday
What has patriarchy done for us lately? Or ever? It's assumed by many that patriarchy benefits men at the expense of women, but feminists have long pointed out that patriarchy harms EVERYBODY, men included. As a feminist, I have a vested interest in telling truer versions of popular myths, and Madeline Miller's Circe does exactly … Continue reading Recommended Reading: Circe by Madeline Miller
Friends, it's been too long since I've posted! In Minnesota, winter lasts from October-April, so my apologies! I've been reading a lot and have so much to share! Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown! Get it! Read it! Live it! I've been heavily invested in new, liberation models for storytelling, and … Continue reading Recommended Reading: Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown
I first met Shannon Gibney this summer when I took my sibling to Shannon's talk about representation in stories. Due to the other people present, it wasn't quite what was expected, but Shannon was wonderful and we got copies of See No Color and A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota, which I … Continue reading Recommended Reading: Dream Country by Shannon Gibney
If you live in Minnesota, you need to read A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota Edited by Sun Yung Shin. If you don't live in Minnesota, you still need to read it. It's way past time people started listening to OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE THEMSELVES. This country has gone on too long letting … Continue reading Recommended Reading: A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota
I published this article on Medium today, but since they're capping at three articles a month, I'm posting it here too. Please share widely so we can put an end to White Supremacy and the pervasive "accidental racism" in our culture. It's no accident that most white people remain monumentally and inexcusably ignorant about racism … Continue reading Wired for Story Promotes White Supremacy: An Open Letter to Lisa Cron
I didn't have access to or knowledge about the Riot Grrls when I was a teenager. I missed it all, instead just having Courtney Love and Hole, which you can pry out of my cold, dead hands, regardless of the ass Love can be. A couple years ago, I watched The Punk Singer on Netflix, … Continue reading Recommended Viewing: The Punk Singer: “All girls to the front. I’m not kidding. All girls to the front! All boys be cool for once in your lives. Go back. Back. Back. Back.”
I saw Danez Smith perform Waiting On You To Die So I Can Be Myself on facebook, and that sealed it: I requested off work so I could go to their reading at the Northfield Public Library last night. I'd seen and read a few other poems that also resonated with me, and I went … Continue reading Recommended Reading: Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith
Janelle Monáe. Janelle Monáe. Janelle Monáe! I'm all about PROJECT Q.U.E.E.N. Janelle Monáe is the hera I've needed my whole life. The songs and videos exist to be read. She speaks up and out, for all of us. I love her so much. I like this list of her videos on youtube. And yes, "Make … Continue reading Recommended Listening/Viewing/Reading: Janelle Monáe is EVERYTHING
So what if all the unspoken rules and expectations for women under patriarchy were instead codified into law? That's the world Johanna Sinisalo imagined in The Core of the Sun, and I was completely blown away by this novel. I felt like it described exactly the world I was born into and must navigate. I … Continue reading Recommended Reading: The Core of the Sun by Johanna Sinisalo
harmony is a witch 