EDCMOOC discussion

This book by Ken Liu is our June read for discussion on Saturday 5th July (Sunday in NZ).

It's a short story available on the web here http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...

Please add themes and thoughts below.

We also need a mod for this one!

K

Thanks Linda! who will be moderating our #edcmchat on Mono no Aware.

This 17-page story won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Short Story: "...inspired by works like the science fiction manga Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, Liu sought to evoke an "aesthetic primarily oriented towards creating in the reader an empathy towards the inevitable passing of all things", and to acknowledge "the importance of memory and continuity with the past"" (Wikipedia).

Here's a little about the concept in the title:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mono_no_... "literally "the pathos of things", and also translated as "an empathy toward things", or "a sensitivity to ephemera", is a Japanese term for the awareness of impermanence (無常 mujō?), or transience of things, and both a transient gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing as well as a longer, deeper gentle sadness about this state being the reality of life."

And a bit about the author @kyliu99 - "SFF author and translator; Nebula, Hugo, WFA winner; lawyer and programmer; rep by Russell Galen; “Grace of Kings” 4/7/2015 Saga Press."

Thanks Linda! Looking forward to reading this.
K

Preliminary chat questions will be forthcoming soon!

Just read it. Very powerful story. It drew parallels for me with climate change.

It was nice also to read a story with a strong collectivist over individualist theme - interesting exploration of cultures. Is Western individualism being exported? Something that I've thought about recently... Are Moocs a form of Western hegemony?

Looking forward to the chat. Thanks Linda for modding!

The collectivist over individualist theme is one of the first questions--I keep thinking about the scene in Star Trek III where Spock says, as he is dying, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. In this case, what gets lost forever with that sacrifice? And how does that resonate with our lives and purpose?

More to think about: diaspora. If you had to leave the place you call home (which may be where you were born or another place on the planet altogether) what would you take with you to remind you of who you are? What stories would you tell to explain your home culture?

KC, that question about MOOCs as a form of Western hegemony came up in my Twitter feed recently too...what an easy way to spread an ideology and call it education, no? [Please excuse my cynicism, here on the 4th of July in the US]

Just finished reading & looking forward to tuning into all these ideas tomorrow that KC & Linda have shared above.
So glad you're modding, Linda :)
Thanks for always being (t)here, KC!

The contrast between cultural attitudes perked up for me too, especially between what seemed like resigned pragmatism (upon the Japanese contingency being denied spaceship entry) - later realised as acceptance of universal vulnerability, versus what never giving up means.

Also, the story plot drawing on spaceship earth / lifeboat ethics - who gets on board to a new future, who gets left behind; what happens in the aftermath of the shock in decisions and interactions: "The other nations of the world had
squabbled over who should contribute how much to a joint evacuation effort when the Hammer
was first discovered on its collision course with Earth. And then, when that plan had collapsed,
most decided that it was better to gamble that the Hammer would miss and spend the money
and lives on fighting with each other instead." Good way to detract/distract/destress!?

Enjoyed all the delicate haikus too! And the gentle manner of Liu's writing.

I will try to be there - out at a friends today and might be out tonight though (it doesn't happen very often!). Sorry in advance if I miss it - I really did enjoy this story.

I can mod in August however!

K