Metallurgic Matter(ing)s: Mirrored Mandalorian Metal-Scapes, Mining(s), and Mimesis

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: Titillating and Trifling Matter(s) in Curriculum Studies

Abstract

This paper explores the entangled and extractionary relationship(s) between humans, metals, and the more-than-human world(s). Taking a geological and metallurgist approach (Parikka, 2015), we “follow the flows of matter” (p. 23) to consider the aliveness of extraordinary materialities represented in recent popular culture science fiction(al) universe (e.g., beskar from The Mandolorian in the Star Wars universe) and the role that hypermimetic matter(ing)s play in sustainability of human aliveness through a “productive collaboration” (Parikka, 2015) with metals. By engaging with (fictional) metallurgic materialities and prompted by Bennett’s question to “see what a metal can do rather than...to know what a metal is”, we ask: How might (exceptionally) vibrant matter(ing)s establish a bridge between how we encounter the more-than-human-world(s), and each other?

Authors

• Bretton A. Varga, California State University - Chico

• Erin Adams, Kennesaw State University