The Future Imaginary in Indigenous North American Arts and Literatures

This book explores the future in Indigenous North American speculative literature and digital arts, showing how it can be a tool for decolonization and a catalyst for change. It develops a methodology to uncover the signifying structures producing the future in selected works and conceptualizes its multimedia corpus as an archive of and for Indigenous futures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the realm of Indigenous North American speculative literature and digital arts, exploring the fascinating visions of the future that these creative works envision. It poses thought-provoking questions about how diverse Indigenous narratives imagine the future and how they engage with settler colonial narratives about the future. Through a series of insightful chapters, the book demonstrates that the future is not a fixed entity but a dynamic and malleable textual and digital product that can serve as both a tool of colonialism and a catalyst for decolonization.

At the heart of this study lies the development of a methodology that uncovers the signifying structures that shape the future in selected works by renowned Indigenous authors such as Darcie Little Badger, Gerald Vizenor, Stephen Graham Jones, Skawennati, Danis Goulet, Scott Benesiinaabandan, Postcommodity, Kite, Jeff Barnaby, and Ryan Singer. Drawing upon Jason Lewis' concept of the future imaginary as a theoretical framework, the book offers a comprehensive exploration of the various forms of textual representation and virtual simulation employed by these authors to express notions of Indigenous continuation.

The book argues that Indigenous authors and artists employ the aesthetics of the future as a strategic tool in their works, creating a multimedia corpus that serves as a continuously growing archive of and for Indigenous futures. By examining the ways in which these works envision a range of possibilities, from ecological restoration to cultural resurgence, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of Indigenous futures.

This book is a valuable contribution to the field of speculative literature and digital arts, offering insights into the ways in which Indigenous voices are shaping the future of our world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of culture, identity, and the possibilities of a more just and sustainable future.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367754822