Wiscon panel brainstorming

[boxofdelights]

Wiscon panel suggestions end on January 7!

To suggest a panel: https://program.wiscon.net/brainstorm/

I have an idea I would like help with.

Villain Redemption Stories

Dr. Kinitra Brooks, in her Sirens 2021 GOH speech, suggested that all the villain redemption stories we're seeing in American media right now are signs of the return of the repressed: being reminded of America's history of slavery, genocide, and colonialism, and the present-day effects of those evils, makes us hungry for stories like "Let's not focus on the genocide. He had a hard childhood!" or "Actually the puppy-killing was a lie!"
Brooks said that Afrofuturist stories are more likely to take a path of truth and reconciliation: You can come back, but it requires acknowledging the whole truth of what you did, and listening to a lot of hard truths about the effects you had on other people.
What works of speculative fiction have done this well? What are some ways to do it really badly?

All comments are welcome. What I'm struggling with is how to acknowledge Dr. Brooks in this. I am paraphrasing from memory. I don't have a text to look at. So I don't want to put words in her mouth, but I want to credit her idea.

Comments

[sonia]

I think you phrased it clearly already. You could add "(paraphrased from memory)" at the end if you're concerned. Also maybe contact her and ask if she would share her transcript of that part of the speech?

I would be cautious of saying "some ways to do it badly." That sounds like a panel derail waiting to happen.

In any case, it sounds like a great topic!

[boxofdelights]

That's a good point. I don't want to assume that everyone already knows what might be wrong with a villain redemption arc, though.

[ursula]

I might title the panel "Villain redemption vs. reconciliation" to emphasize the contrast you want to make.

[boxofdelights]

That is a good idea. Thanks!