Conversation Paper #1: Masks of Identity

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STORIES: Ms. Marvel, “Destroy the City With Me Tonight,” “Brightened Star, Ascending Dawn,” “The Zen of Starship Maintenance,” “Carnival Nine,” “Rivers Run Free,” “The Last Cheng Beng Gift”

INTRO: Each of these stories shares a variety of conversations about the role of identity—rivers and robots becoming human, ‘normal’ people becoming superhuman, and people facing their final identity (death). All these stories are ultimately about us, and how we change, adapt, and learnt to be “seen” for who we truly are, rather than forgotten for the wrong reasons. The metaphors of heroes, robots, and ghosts help us consider who we are at different stages of our lives, and who we might become. The less it looks like us, the easier it is to see ourselves in the metaphor (which is why sci-fi and fantasy comes in handy).

ASSIGNMENT: I want you to write a paper to someone much younger than you—perhaps a younger brother or sister, or even your younger self—who is just beginning to struggle with the concept of identity. Obviously they can’t understand this process or really articulate who they are or what they want to be. So in this paper, I want you to give them advice about how to find themselves, what to avoid, and what it means to be truly ‘human.’ To do this, I want you to use at least THREE of the stories in class to show them that this is a universal conversation—one that everyone struggles with, that we don’t need to experience alone. Use the ideas, characters, and situations in the stories to help them see their own journey and struggle, as well as what you’ve learned from your own experience. Be SPECIFIC and don’t be afraid to be personal; show that the stories aren’t just stories—they actually relate to real life.

QUOTING STORIES/WORKS CITED:
In Marshall’s story, “Destroy the City With Me Tonight,” she writes that “She’s always wondered why you’d bother with a mask; now she gets it. It’s not to be concealed, it’s to be seen, to be remembered” (14). This is important because…

Marshall, Kate Alice. “Destroy the City With Me Tonight.” Best American Science
            Fiction and Fantasy 2018. ed. Jemisin. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2018.

REQUIREMENTS:
  • At least 4 pages double spaced
  • Must use at least 3 stories from class, though you can use one more than the others
  • Quote from the stories in your paper and cite following MLA guidelines; include a Works Cited page at the end with each source listed
  • Due in TWO WEEKS: Friday, March 1st by 5pm




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