Define the phrase imperial nostalgia (in your own words). Read Chapter One – Utopia. How might a preoccupation with security connect to this concept? Suggested Readings: The Rule of Empires by Timothy H. Parsons
Rebuilding Arcadia (book 1) is set in a steampunk universe. This means history has taken a different course. Events in the past have led to a radically altered future. Take a moment to examine historic events, organizations and political entities while completing the task below. Use reasoning, logic and your imagination to explore how this…
“Mountainous regions are labeled, in many languages, as wild, remote, “backwater” zones. The paradox is that this label can be both used disparagingly as an indication of social inferiority and with reverence to refer to sacred zones at the heart of cultures and religions. Mountain ranges are often the sites of violent contestations of national…
In Chapter Three, the Capitol is promoted as an ecological marvel – self-sufficient and sustainable. However, what evidence do we have that this is actually true, rather than an illusion created by the ruling military elite? What resources would you need to realistically sustain a city with several hundred inhabitants? Several thousand? Could the terrorists…
For any discussion of power, privilege or identity, it’s important to establish that the lesson is a workshop or open discussion, rather than an opportunity for indoctrination. While this may seem obvious to teachers, it still needs to be stated, as in many cultures the student-teacher relationship is itself a power dynamic. Teachers take on…