METIS IN SPACE
Molly Swain and Chelsea Vowel are two indigenous women who when they’re not at the University of Alberta are deconstructing science fiction with a glass of wine and a decolonial perspective. They discuss fan favorite movies and TV episodes from Twilight Zone to X-Files to Lilo & Stitch. Metis in Space is part of the larger Cowboys and Indians podcast network. Their first episode premiered back in 2014 and will be premiering their sixth season in the near future.
Episode Discussion| audio | transcript
“DUNE”
In this episode, Molly and Chelsea discuss the 1980s science fiction movie Dune directed by David Lynch which is based off the epic novel of the same name. The story focuses on Paul Atreides whose father is assigned to be the lord of the planet Arrakis also known as Dune. Due to Arrakis’s place in the universe as the only producer of the essential drug: melange, Paul’s family gets under attack from the Galactic Empire. Rallying the natives of Dune, the Fremen, Paul launches a rebellion that liberates Dune as well as taking over the universe.
The two hosts blend serious discussion of common colonial literary themes with lighter content around how attractive Patrick Stewart is in the movie. For Dune specifically, they discuss the relationships between colonialism and religion, the role of the white savior, and economic forces that contribute to colonialism. For example, the reason that Paul is able to become the leader of the Fremen is because he aligns with a prophecy that is passed down within their religion. The part that connects this religion to colonialism is that priestesses century prior purposely implanted such myths and ideas into Fremen culture. It was a tactic used by the priestly class to ensure that they could sustain control and power over less civilized societies. Molly and Chelsea connect this device with how colonists saw taking over the land and killing indigenous people as part of their destiny, their religion.
The two hosts also touch on how Paul becomes the liberator which is an attempt for colonists to assuage themselves of guilt. Paul was part of the colonial power, being the son of a Duke appointed to rule over a planet they had never been to before. Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang discuss how colonists have attempted to assuage themselves by seeing themselves “go native” or “adopt native customs” which is cheered upon in Dune.
Metis in Space is excellent at breaking down almost scene by scene how tropes and trends we might applaud and celebrate are actually part of a toxic culture around indigenous and native people. They are decolonizing the fiction that they adore but speaking about the parts they love but also calling it out on its faults. For science fiction fans out there, this is a podcast that will teach you more about our current world by examining how science fiction reflects it. These stories show how much of the world is based off of colonialism whether we are aware of it or not.