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We should all be reading more Ursula Le Guin
https://theoutline.com/post/7886/ursula-le-guin-carrier-bag-theory
Her novels imagine other worlds, but her theory of fiction can help us better live in this one.
https://theoutline.com/post/7886/ursula-le-guin-carrier-bag-theory
Her novels imagine other worlds, but her theory of fiction can help us better live in this one.
This 'carrier bag theory' is brilliant. It makes a lot of sense that being able to carry lots of things is so much more important than throwing a stick. Another comment called it "unfathomably based" and I agree.
Also, we aren't going to "beat" climate change. We're going to have to humble ourselves and say no to things. We're going to have to adapt, not overcome.
Perhaps I should read Ursula's bag theory myself, because I'm not quite following how it applies to Solarpunk or talking about climate from this.
I like everything I've read of Le Guin. Just finished reading her last one, Lavinia (Pre-Roman historical myth based on the Aeneid). The Dispossessed is great and you get a feel for an anarchist society. She also wrote a good translation of the Tao te Ching.
To me, the connection wasn’t direct. The author was saying that to move forward and solve humanity’s problems, there needs to be less heroes (guys with spears) and more collaboration (people with bags). Humans love their heroes so it’s an uphill battle.
What I took from my initial read is “stop waiting for others to save the world.” That feels solarpunk to me.
I tried to read the left hand of darkness and like I think she's great and I like her ideas but I found that book super tedious I just didn't care about all the lore and mumbo jumbo
Good read. Interesting take that the urge to "win" (or to end a problem) could include its own end, in a cruelly optimistic twist.
I liked the part about including more ahistorical/non-human actors.
Lots to chew on. Thanks for sharing