Class Prep#12

Preparation
Enter the world of Bitch Planet. Bitch Planet is set in an alternative, futuristic world where women are imprisoned for acts of “non-compliance” and sent to an off-world prison. Its publisher, Image Comics, describes the series as a “women-in-prison sci-fi exploitation riff”. Its tagline: Are you woman enough to survive?
Content warning: Bitch Planet includes nudity, violent imagery, and voyeurism.
For Monday, read through the first two trades (stopping at the 3rd feature focusing on Penny Rolle). As you read, consider the world and characters writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Valentine De Landro create visually and through narrative; make note of visual features, including elements of comic design. Think about how this comic differs in substantial ways, visually and narratively, from other comics / graphic novels we’ve read this quarter.
Also read Ch. 10, “What is Cultural Appropriation?” from Oluo.
For your written prep,
Part A: Describe the comic and the first half of Bitch Planet. What is Bitch Planet and what is Bitch Planet about? (Note the importance of formatting here: italics and no italics refer to different things.) (2-3 sentences). Then share your thoughts and impressions. What interests you about the story / world / characters etc?
What are you enjoying about the comic–narratively and visually? What are DeConnick and De Landro doing in / with this comic that strikes you as particularly interesting or meaningful? Anything that excites or satisfies you in this comic? What may be falling short for you at this point in the series?. Anything you’re struggling with or disappointed about? What questions have come up for you in your reading? Try to be specific as you describe and explain your interests and reactions to particular aspects of the comic. (3-4 sentences)
Part B: Turn your focus to Oluo’s Ch. 10. Explain cultural appropriation and how / where Oluo extends or deepens your understanding around the issue and challenges of cultural appropriation? Quote her text to show us what you mean
Part C: Compare Oluo’s discussion about cultural appropriation with Teju Cole’s in “Getting Others Right.” What concepts and concerns do their texts have in common when it comes to cultural appropriation? Choose one strong connection you see and quote both texts to show us what you mean.