University of Minnesota Press

Science Fiction and the Alt-Right

20 snips
Dec 10, 2024
Jordan S. Carroll, an expert on speculative whiteness and author of "Reading the Obscene," teams up with David M. Higgins, a senior editor at the Los Angeles Review of Books and author of "Reverse Colonization." They explore how science fiction has been entwined with white nationalism, revealing the historical ties of neo-Nazi movements to sci-fi fandom. The guests discuss the impact of speculative narratives on identity, the intersection of masculinity in these tales, and the need for diverse voices to counteract the reactionary trends in modern fandom.
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INSIGHT

Speculative Whiteness Defined

  • Speculative whiteness is the racist ideology that only white men can imagine and exist in the future.
  • This idea is explored through sci-fi history and white nationalism.
ANECDOTE

Madole and Sci-Fi Fascism

  • James H. Madole, the first neo-Nazi, used sci-fi imagery to recruit.
  • He envisioned a "New Atlantis" after a white-committed genocide, highlighting a fascist tendency within the genre.
INSIGHT

Misinterpreting Sci-Fi Critiques

  • White nationalists often misread critiques of fascism in sci-fi, focusing on the fascist elements.
  • They see characters like the God Emperor in Dune as heroic, ignoring the cautionary aspects.
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