Marie Lerma
Contributing Scholar 2019-2020
Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Biography
I am a storyteller, world builder, and doctoral student in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. My dissertation research is about alternative environmentalism that pushes back against white supremacy, colonialism, and sexism in the artwork of different Latinx artists across the United States and Canada. I am Chicana from California, with roots from South Texas. I received my BA in history and women's studies from California State University, Fresno. For as long as I can remember I have been creating other worlds and using various art and craft forms to reflect aspects of those worlds.
Q & A
What makes more livable futures for you?
If everyone took up abuela sensibilities, the future would be more livable to me. By abuela sensibilities I mean keeping sewing supplies in a metal cookie container; reusing old clothes to make rags, bags, and other things; reusing plastic instead of single use; and more. A livable future also means listening to the past injustice and joy, then creating something new. A livable future would mean decolonization and returning indigenous land. A livable future would mean children of all classes would have good and fresh food to eat in school. A livable future would mean being able to breathe, being comfortable in our bodies. A livable future means many stories are told and many worlds are made and all survive and thrive. A livable future to me means any issue or problem is looked at through all angles and creative solutions are prioritized.
What are you reading, viewing, listening to right now?
At the moment I am listening to various Latinx artists such as San Cha, Xenia Rubinos, Lido Pimienta, and Hurray for the Riff Raff. Their music and lyrics tap into memories while also push me to think of the present and the future. I am currently reading The Winged Histories by Sofia Samatar, Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis, Alienation by Inés Estrada, and A People's Future of the United States ed. by Victor LaValle. Samatar constructs a past through four narratives in a world that does not exist, and in this setting she discusses queer identity, political revolution, and magic. de Robertis does something similar with memory and queer identity and revolution, though it is very centered in Uruguay in the 1970s and 1980s. The stories in A People's Future and the graphic novel Alienation are about possible futures to come. I love speculative fiction genres and the possibility to rewrite the past, present, and future.
What practices are sustaining you?
I thrive on various forms of storytelling. At the moment, my storytelling is taking the form of two things. The first is a short story I have slowly been working on throughout 2019. The second is creating a world and adventures for a tabletop roleplaying game for my friends to interact in. In both, I like to think of different possibilities and selves. Cooking and baking also sustain me in different ways. I like the creativity and potential with cooking, and the formulaic aspect to baking. When I have time, I dream and design various gardens I would like to create one day when I have access to a space to grow more than a succulent on a window sill.