Cultural Appropriation (WisCon 30 Panel)

Panel Description

Cultural Appropriation & Writing Fantasy Outside Western Tradition (#132)

Writing SF&F: The Craft•Assembly• Saturday, 9:00-10:15 p.m.

Not all fantasy fiction is, or indeed should, come from faery, from Middle Earth, from Tolkien or from other Western European traditions. Not everything should be pseudo–medieval in nature, and it seems that more and more fantasy authors are drawing upon other cultural frameworks in fashioning their fictions. Yet, that comes with its own issues, such as cultural appropriation. A discussion of the embrace of neglected mythoi, and the pitfalls that may await the adventurous traveler there.

Panelists

Nisi Shawl (moderator), Judith E. Berman, Theresa Crater, Gregory Frost, Yoon Ha Lee, Ekaterina Sedia

Reading List, Chronological

• "Appropriate Cultural Appropriation" by Nisi Shawl (essay by Shawl on the topic; Nisi then moderated the WisCon panel)
• Cheryl Morgan's notes
• Yoon Ha Lee's notes

Blogosphere Discussion, Post-Event

• Chronological link round-up, with ongoing updates at least through 2006/6/4 - VERY helpful for reading the debate through
• Rydra Wong link round-up
• http://community.livejournal.com/wiscon/60313.html - Letter suggesting more time @ WisCon 31

Additional links (alphabetical order):

• http://coffeeandink.livejournal.com/595845.html
• http://community.livejournal.com/deadbrowalking/
• http://leadensky.livejournal.com/403182.html
• http://leadensky.livejournal.com/403406.html#cutid1
• http://minnow1212.livejournal.com/249864.html
• http://mrissa.livejournal.com/295638.html
• http://naominovik.livejournal.com/26379.html
• http://oyceter.livejournal.com/442467.html
• http://popfantastic.livejournal.com/544223.html
• http://rilina.livejournal.com/315278.html
• http://veejane.livejournal.com/258692.html
• http://vonnie-k.livejournal.com/286542.html
• http://wordsofastory.livejournal.com/216410.html
• http://yhlee.livejournal.com/604679.html

Works Cited

Works Cited on Panel

• Judith E. Berman, Bear Daughter

Works Cited in Online Discussions

• "Appropriate Cultural Appropriation" by Nisi Shawl