The politics of humanity: On anthropological science fiction in Peru

Abstract

As a geocultural and temporally defined form of production, science fiction is fully within the scope of anthropological analysis. In this article, I aim to analyze the representation of the notion of humanity in Latin American science fiction. Specifically, I examine four narratives by Peruvian authors that offer a critical political lens on contemporary Peruvian society. As the notion of humanity is a complex and multifaceted concept explored by different disciplines, I seek to contribute to the discussion by providing a case study from social anthropology. Science fiction is a particularly relevant medium for social and political critique, as it allows for exploring real and contemporary situations by constructing possible worlds. Methodologically, I approach these four narratives ethnographically, that is, by contextualizing them within the Peruvian socio-political space. In terms of analysis, this article is framed within the anthropological exploration of colonial relations, the construction of social classifications, the boundaries and borders between the human and the non-human, and human impacts on the planet. I argue that science fiction can offer innovative perspectives that enrich a critical anthropological perspective.