In the autumn of 2022 I was working on a book review. To get a bit of headspace and exercise, I was cycling or walking to work on it at the Spike Island Cafe.
Continue reading “Review of Twoty-Twoty-Two (2022): Becoming a Spike Island Associate”Category: Host Posts
Posts by Just Utopias host Sheryl M. Medlicott
Review of Twoty-Twoty-Two (2022): Utopian Studies Conference
The thing that took me farthest out of my comfort zone in 2022 was attending the Utopian Studies Society conference. I thought it would be nice to have a few days away to discuss all things utopian but I was wrong. I stretched my elastic too far just to get there. It was my first time travelling on my own and travelling much at all since the pandemic and having a child (both things that have tied me to home over the past few years). Having to then leave my room and attend events was so hard. This is despite my room (in student halls) being unbearably hot and depressing.
Yes, this was another USS conference in a heatwave, like the previous one in Prato, Italy in 2019 where we discussed utopia, dystopia and climate change in 40 degree heat (Celcius, folks). Just the thing to make discussions feel urgent and hopeless at the same time.
Continue reading “Review of Twoty-Twoty-Two (2022): Utopian Studies Conference”An ecofeminist and utopian perspective on The Word For World Is Forest
My presentation from the The Word for World is Forest symposium is now available online! Find it on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, anchor.fm, PlayerFM and more. Wherever you get your podcasts, as they say.
Continue reading “An ecofeminist and utopian perspective on The Word For World Is Forest”Recommended utopian books for kids
Bristol Utopian Book Collective recently hosted a children’s book group as part of the PRSC School of Activism. I selected Oscar’s Tower of Flowers by local Bristol author and illustrator Lauren Tobia as our book to discuss. Being up for a bit of activism, Tobia joined us for the event and talked us through the story of her beautiful wordless book.
As mother to a young child and a critic of literary eco-utopias, the two sometimes crossover when reading bedtime stories. Some seemingly innocent books are horrendous when seen through an ecocritical lens (I’m looking at you, Babar). Oscar’s Tower of Flowers, however, has so many reasons to recommend it.
Continue reading “Recommended utopian books for kids”From lemon balm tea in a Martian house to lemon verbena in the woods
Sometimes you don’t know how you feel about something until the morning after. Yesterday I visited a prototype Martian house, learnt about growing plants hydroponically and participated in a ‘plant-bathing’ meditation and tea ceremony. We picked lemon balm leaves from the indoor garden to make our tea.
Over tea, we talked about how extraordinary growing plants would be for the wellbeing of anyone living on Mars.
Continue reading “From lemon balm tea in a Martian house to lemon verbena in the woods”The Word for World is Forest symposium
This morning brought news I have had a proposal accepted to present at an online symposium dedicated to Ursula K. Le Guin’s novella The Word for World is Forest.
The symposium is being organised by The Anarres Project for Alternative Futures on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the publication of Forest.
Continue reading “The Word for World is Forest symposium”Three quick-fire utopian book recommendations
I wore my Just Utopias badge to a school event recently and it proved a conversation starter. On the spot, I was asked for utopian book recommendations. I can’t believe I didn’t have an answer prepared for this scenario, but there you go.
So, what would I recommend to someone completely new to the genre? Where is the ideal starting point for utopia?
Continue reading “Three quick-fire utopian book recommendations”Badges badges badges badges
I’m planning on handing them out willy-nilly at the conference. If, however, you’re a subscriber to the blog and you won’t be there, email me your address and I’ll post one to you. Don’t forget to tell me your colour preference!
Brighton build up – two weeks til the Utopian Studies conference!
The Brighton build up has begun! It should have begun a bit earlier if I’m honest… Two weeks to go and my paper is definitely in progress but not exactly ready as yet…
Continue reading “Brighton build up – two weeks til the Utopian Studies conference!”Utopian Studies Society of Europe coming to Brighton!
I’m very excited that this year’s conference of the Utopian Studies Society of Europe is being held in Brighton, UK!
Continue reading “Utopian Studies Society of Europe coming to Brighton!”