"Utopia Unlimited: Women, Fundamentalism, and Science Fiction"

Feminist science fiction writers imagine the advent of religious theocracy and its consequences for women, people of color, and other often marginalized groups.  For these authors, science fiction becomes a way to explore feminist theory that is not only colorful, but reaches a broad audience.  In this session, Naomi Mercer will treat us to a sampling of feminist science fiction that crosses genre boundaries, disseminates social commentary, and offers blueprints toward egalitarian utopia. Army Lieutenant Colonel Naomi Mercer is an assistant professor at West Point who teaches English composition and literature, completing her doctorate in literary studies at UW-Madison.