EWL 361 Octavia Butler Seminar (RES)
In this class, we will read selected works of African American novelist Octavia Butler, in order to understand her creative contribution to the fields of science fiction, speculative historical fiction, Afrofuturism, and climate fiction. We will look at Butler’s published novels and stories, as well as archival materials documenting her creative process. Finally, we will study interviews with the author and read critical analyses of Butler’s writing, in order to understand how her work intersects with contemporary conversations about art, gender, race, class, and climate change. Each student will develop an in-depth research project focusing on a selected aspect of Butler’s oeuvre. This is a seminar class, which means your presence and collaboration are essential!