Fundraiser

Reading into the Past / Writing into the Future is one of two classes that SFPC is fundraising for in our Community Fundraiser. SFPC has not raised enough money to offer this class tuition free as of January 9, 2024. We will continue to accept donations towards the scholarship fund for this class. Donate to help us offer this class for free.

Course of Study

• Week 1: Orientation - Community agreement, learning objectives, office hours, about the final project, meeting the participants

• Week 2: Voyaging - We will be looking at our first examples of science fiction, examining common written themes that emerge from Black, Brown, Indigenous and queer communities. We will start slowly by writing some short pieces about our pasts and discuss the origins of traditional science fiction as a means to uphold racist, sexist and homophobic ideologies.

• Week 3: Observing - This week focuses on looking for cues from the present day and extrapolating them forward into the future to imagine their consequences and evolution / de-evolution. We compare this kind of imaginative practice to the evolution of plants and non-human species around us.

• Week 4: Contemplation - We deepen our understanding of what a world could look like, if written from within the margins. We are joined by a guest speaker from the world of science, technology or speculative design.

• Week 5: Connecting - We take a look at the way our writing and reading is changing, with influence from the resources in the class. We will think about the way that technology influences major changes to societal behaviour as we’re joined by another guest speaker.

• Week 6: Deepening - We will begin to practice long format writing. We will also map out what it means to be interconnected over space and time. In this class we will select a theme for the publication as well as assign publication production roles (editor, graphic designer, compiler, reviewer, coordinator, etc).

• Week 7: Confrontation - We will consider the world of utopias, dystopias and topias, navigating questions like, ‘utopic to whom?’. We will think together on what it means to write ourselves into the future what leaving space for other futures to exist and flourish.

• Week 8: Refining - This class focuses on edits. A special guest is invited to listen to each written piece and provide meaningful feedback.

• Week 9: Crystallization - We will deepen our methodologies for visual language through a series of writing exercises that aim to sharpen the skills participants are applying as they finish the final edits of their work.

• Week 10: Celebration - This week’s discussion nestles the class in the celebration of completing the publication and the past 10 weeks of study. We review final pieces, reflect on major class archs and themes as well as spend time writing pieces of gratitude to each other and our future and past selves.

• Showcase

Expectations

• Participants will be expected to spend time outside of class on readings as well as writing assignments. Participants will be encouraged to read or listen to each other’s work.

• Over the course of the 10 weeks, we will be working on a collaborative publication based on a theme that emerges from the common interests of the class. This publication will contain a piece from every member of the class.

• Participants are expected to apply new knowledge of writing techniques, compelling scientific or technological information from class content and guest speakers to their work.

By taking this class, you can expect to gain the following:

• The ability to communicate complex ideas through writing and peer discussions

• A more conscientious approach to imagining the future that considers the stakes and cues of the current moment.

• Practice in writing using new techniques, practice in active listening as other people read their work, and practice providing meaningful feedback.

• A nuanced perspective on the interconnected nature of science, creativity and society.

Materials

• Familiarity to Google Drive (tutorial will be included during office hours)

• Paper, pen, notebook

• Readings and book excerpts will be provided

Is this class for me?

If this sounds like you, then YES!:

• You are an artist, writer, creative, designer, thinker, researcher, poet, technologist (and more!) who wants to find diverse community

• You are interested in science fiction

• You are a new or advanced writer - no significant experience needed! If you are interested in critical, decolonial discourse - no significant experience needed!

• You like to imagine new worlds

This class may NOT be for you if:

• You think the world is pretty chill and free of oppression right now

• You think that technology, alone, will save us

• You are only interested in dystopian futures