Western Reads Announces Trio of Fall Events

Western Reads Announces Fall Events

This fall, there are several opportunities for the Western community to explore how themes in this year’s text Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements can help us use issues like racial injustice and climate change to imagine and create bold responses to today’s challenges. Also, free, hard copies of Octavia’s Brood are available at the Western Libraries Main Circulation desk, in the residence halls & AS bookstore for first year students, as an e-copy through the library, and at all Western Reads events. Class sets are also available upon request. Email molly.Ware@wwu.edu for additional information.

Octavia's Cinema - On Thursday, Nov. 1 and 29, we are screening films that are part of the year-long Western Reads film series, Octavia’s Cinema: The Science Fiction of Film. We started off the year with Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049. Continuing under the fall film series theme of Dystopian Dreams, we will screen Bong Joon-Ho’s Snow Piercer (November 1) and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road (November 29) in Fraser Hall 102 at 6:00 pm. Each of the films will be followed by a brief post-film discussion curated by Susanne Seales, for those who are interested. This event is co-sponsored by the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education.

Building Future Worlds Author Panel - Join Afro and Latina futurist authors of Octavia’s Brood and Lunar Braceros for the Building Future Worlds author panel. We will explore the power of visionary fiction in helping us imagine & create the future we want to see. Five authors will join our campus remotely for the panel on November 8 from 3:00-4:30 in Arntzen 100. An in-person forum with several workshops will be held early spring quarter with Octavia’s Brood authors & editor Walidah Imarisha. WWU English faculty Lysa Rivera will moderate the panel. This event is co-sponsored by the WWU English Department.

Marvel Exhibit @ MoPOP - Travel with faculty, staff, and other WWU students to celebrate the world premiere of “MARVEL: Universe of Super Heroes” at the Museum of Popular Culture in Seattle. Together, we’ll explore how super heroes connect to and impact real world issues like gender, race, and mental illness, and how science fiction and utopian worlds can help us build the future we want. All participants will receive a free ticket, free meal, free ride to & from Seattle, & a free copy of this year’s Western Reads book Octavia’s Brood. Visits will take place on Tuesday, November 13 from 8:00-2:00, Thursday, 15 from 12:00-6:00, and Saturday, November 17 from 9:00-3:00. Register here by November 5 to participate. Event sponsored by WWU Equity & Inclusion Forum & Western Reads.