Jordan S. Carroll, "Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right" (U Minnesota Press, 2024)
Nov 22, 2024
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Jordan S. Carroll is an award-winning author and educator known for his works exploring the intersections of race and literature. He delves into how fascists like Richard Spencer misinterpret science fiction to promote a whites-only future. Carroll critiques the idea of 'speculative whiteness,' asserting that innovation should not be monopolized by white men. He discusses the necessity of inclusive narratives in science fiction to combat extremist views and highlights the vital role of antifascist voices in redefining the future.
The podcast reveals how far-right groups misuse science fiction to promote a racist vision of the future dominated by whiteness.
It emphasizes the ongoing struggle within science fiction between progressive ideologies and alt-right appropriation, highlighting the necessity for inclusive narratives.
Deep dives
The Intersection of Science Fiction and White Supremacy
Science fiction has historically been manipulated by far-right groups to promote narratives that center whiteness and deny others the possibility of a future. Many in the alt-right see science fiction as a platform to project their ideology, believing that only white men possess the capability to speculate and imagine alternative futures. This perspective roots itself in long-standing myths about rationality and planning, suggesting that racial minorities are unable to visualize progressive futures, leading to a disturbing cultural lens that situates whiteness as synonymous with future-oriented thought. Examples from history demonstrate how this view has been perpetuated, from pre-Civil War-era justifications for slavery to contemporary far-right thought, indicating that the struggle over the future is deeply tied to racial identity and the narratives surrounding it.
The Dual Nature of Science Fiction
While science fiction often aligns with progressive, anti-fascist viewpoints, it is essential to recognize that the genre is not inherently left-wing. The genre has been a battleground between leftist and rightist ideologies, with right-wing factions attempting to co-opt it for their own purposes. This duality illustrates that while many engage with science fiction for its potential to envision a better future, there is an ongoing battle to reclaim the genre from those who distort its vision to serve racist and nationalist agendas. Engaging with science fiction requires acknowledging this tension and recognizing that the fight against fascist interpretations is crucial in ensuring that the genre remains a space for marginalized perspectives.
Archafuturism and its Ideological Contradictions
The concept of architecturally merging archaic values with high-tech futurism, termed 'archafuturism,' presents an intriguing paradox within far-right discourse. Advocates argue that only a return to historical social hierarchies, empowered by advanced technology, can secure a prosperous future. This perspective reflects a desire to marry traditionalism with innovation, yet it often manifests as incoherent and opportunistic political rhetoric that lacks a unified ideological foundation. The far right seeks both to portray themselves as modernizers while simultaneously yearning for an idealized past, revealing the complexities and contradictions inherent in their political motivations.
Speculative Whiteness in Contemporary Discourse
The current political landscape continues to reflect the principles of speculative whiteness that the alt-right previously espoused, suggesting it has transitioned into a more mainstream discourse. Figures like Elon Musk emerge as contemporary archetypes of this vision, advocating for a future that consolidates technological advancement with elitist, often racist ideologies. This new phase seems to encourage a speculative eugenics framework that, while still entrenched in white supremacy, promotes an imagined elite, claiming to be the architects of a new future. It becomes evident that the left must resist these narratives by crafting their own inclusive visions of the future that reject traditional hierarchies and embrace collaborative imagination.
Fascists such as Richard Spencer interpret science fiction films and literature as saying only white men have the imagination required to invent a high-tech future. Other white nationalists envision racist utopias filled with Aryan supermen and all-white space colonies. Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right(University of Minnesota Press, 2024) traces these ideas through the entangled histories of science fiction culture and white supremacist politics, showing that debates about representation in science fiction films and literature are struggles over who has the right to imagine and inhabit the future. Although fascists insist that tomorrow belongs to them, they have always been and will continue to be contested by antifascist fans willing to fight for the future.
