Comments on: Magical Realism – Mythopoetry – Speculative Fiction

By: Charles Tan

Charles Tan — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:37:18 +0000

Their main criticisms (and this is an oversimplification):

1) why place genre labels on fiction? isn’t all fiction speculative? or on the opposite end, there’s nothing fantastical about meeting a manananggal as it’s part of daily life.

2) why borrow a term from “colonialists”? do we not have an appropriate term for the genre? (just as magic-realism was imposed on Marquez and other Latin American writers instead of coming from them).

By: Barbara Jane Reyes

Barbara Jane Reyes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:03:05 +0000

Thanks Charles. I see what you mean re: perspective. I’d be interested in hearing why the “conservative Filipino literati” dislike the term. Is it because it’s still “genre” versus “high literature”? I’m under the impression (and I could be wrong) that “speculative fiction” while broadening the field of sci fi/fantasy, is or can be an elevation of the literature. Perhaps the conservative literati are resistant to that elevation?

By: JeFF

JeFF — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:17:54 +0000

Hi Barbara Jane,

Haven’t been by in a while. Just wanted to say you got mentioned on io9, a pretty popular science fiction blog. Had already read your words here, but came across them again while geeking out.

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:17:03 +0000

Hi Barbara!

I just want to mention that “speculative fiction” is only culturally neutral depending on whose perspective. The other, more conservative Filipino literati here don’t like term for example, and was a big point of debate during the Taboan Writing Conference earlier this year. It also ties to Dean pushing for the term.

By: J

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:07:01 +0000

This topic could make for an interesting panel at the Babaylan conference.

Jean

By: Barbara Jane Reyes

Barbara Jane Reyes — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:24:08 +0000

Thank Paul, Yes, I’m with that. Good point.

By: Paul Squires

Paul Squires — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:44:16 +0000

And if you connect that thought to a true left-wing politic and the idea that poets have access to mysteries of language that not everybody does, you have a very powerful idea. But if you use it without the left wing politic (or cynically) a disaster awaits. This has been my personal experience.