How do queer futurisms challenge the assumption that progress is linear and inevitable?
Queer futurisms are fictional stories about imagined futures that incorporate LGBTQ+ themes and ideas into science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, romance, or any genre where the story takes place outside of reality. They can be set anywhere from centuries in the future to alternate dimensions or parallel universes. Queer futurisms often explore new concepts related to gender identity, sexual orientation, power dynamics, and social hierarchies. These narratives can be speculative or satirical, optimistic or dystopian, but they all seek to challenge traditional norms and expectations around gender and sexuality.
One way that queer futurisms challenge the notion of progress as linear and inevitable is by questioning the idea of a "heteronormative" society. This term refers to a world where heterosexuality is the dominant norm, meaning that non-heterosexual identities are seen as deviant or abnormal. In many queer futurisms, this dominant paradigm no longer exists. Instead, there may be multiple genders, fluid sexualities, and new ways of relating to one another based on technology or biology.
In Gwyneth Jones' novel Bold As Love, humanity has evolved beyond gender entirely and uses artificial intelligence to create new types of relationships. By exploring these alternative societies, queer futurisms offer fresh perspectives on what it means to be human and how we might live together in the future.
Another way that queer futurisms challenge assumptions about progress is by examining the role of history in shaping our present reality. Some stories ask whether past mistakes will repeat themselves in the future, while others imagine radical changes to history that could lead to different outcomes.
In Charlie Jane Anders' All the Birds in the Sky, magic and science clash over the fate of humanity, with each side drawing inspiration from their own historical legacy. In the end, both sides must come together to save the planet from destruction. These narratives show that change can happen when people take action to break free from old patterns and make new choices.
Queer futurisms also interrogate the assumption that technological advancement is always positive. While some stories celebrate the potential of new technology to transform society for the better, others warn against its dangers. In Nnedi Okorafor's Lagoon, aliens arrive on Earth and introduce advanced technology, but it comes at a cost. The story explores themes of colonialism, exploitation, and environmental degradation as humans struggle to understand the consequences of their actions. These stories suggest that progress may not always be linear or predictable, and that we should be cautious about embracing untested innovations without considering their wider impact.
Queer futurisms provide a powerful platform for exploring complex social issues through speculative fiction. They invite us to reconsider what progress means and how we might shape the world around us in ways that are more equitable, sustainable, and humane. By challenging assumptions about gender and sexuality, they offer hope for a brighter tomorrow where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
How do queer futurisms challenge the assumption that progress is linear and inevitable?
Queer futurisms are literary works that explore possible worlds beyond heteronormativity, cisnormativity, and other binary categories of sexuality and gender. They imagine alternative ways of being that challenge the assumptions of our current world. These works often present nonlinear narratives with complex characters who defy easy categorization, and they suggest that progress may not be as straightforward as we might think.