#spacetraders

[mother-sauces]

Hyperfixated on my SpaceTraders app, lads

[mother-sauces]

I've let this hyperfixation have its way with me; now it's time to rest.

Here is my crappy Spacetraders frontend in React. The core game loop is implemented but most features are not. Feel free to let me know about bugs or suggest improvements but I will not be putting any more work into this for the next few days.

[ariellagad]

Afrofuturism, Space Traders, and Sociology Themes

Up until taking this course, I had never heard of the phrase Afrofuturism, although I had seen elements and examples of it so frequently. During our first lecture, it really clicked in my head what Afrofuturism is, and I was able to make the connection and understanding based on the fact that I had seen the film Black Panther in 2018. It all started to make sense. At the time I first watched the movie, I wasn’t entirely aware that it was Afrofuturism or that the concept of the Black Panther had been an integral part of Black history. I just thought it was a cool Marvel movie and that it was a positive and empowering representation of Black people. Now, years later, I see the deeper meaning and intent behind the film and the story it tells, within the context of Afrofuturism and all the knowledge I’ve acquired as a sociology major about racial disparities. Additionally, I think that being a sociology major is helping me grasp the significance of the class material a lot better than I would have had I not been a sociology student. As a sociology student, I’ve learned a lot about systemic racism, intersectionality, and how Black people specifically can and have been discriminated against in our society. One of my favorite topics in the realm of sociology is intersectionality, which was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw, a Black woman who is a civil rights activist, critical race theorist, and law professor. Insanely impressive and inspiring, Crenshaw coined intersectionality to describe how Black women are not solely discriminated against by their race but also by their gender, and how the two simultaneously are factors that are prejudiced against. This week, I picked up a theme of intersectionality while discussing and analyzing the film Space Traders. I thought that Golightly’s situation among the all-white cabinet echoed aspects of the glass ceiling effect, ultimately symbolizing intersectionality. The glass ceiling effect refers to an invisible barrier that prevents women and other minority groups from advancing to higher positions of power of leadership, despite the fact that they may be qualified and capable of doing so. In Space Traders, Golightly is included in discussions of the trade, but his opinions are not valued to the degree of the other white cabinet members. In the movie, Golightly is invited into the room but isn’t truly heard or respected. Ultimately, he is physically visible, but his opinions and voice are invisible to the rest of the cabinet, despite his being just as qualified as the rest of them to make a valid argument. This is tied to themes of intersectionality to me because of how it resembles the glass ceiling effect, which is typically applied to women. It also contrasted with the fact that so many aspects of what constitutes intersectionality are what Golightly and the cabinet shared, yet his race is what the cabinet used to uphold the barrier in front of him.

[melissaashleybrooks]

Lirerary Adaptation of "The Space Traders"

summary adaptation: It was the year 2000 and people gathered along the Atlantic Coast to experience the appearance of alien ships to Earth. Upon arrival, no one expected the foreigners to offer America all of the resources that would solve their current issues and decades to come: gold for the debt crisis, chemicals that could deplete pollution, and safe nuclear engine and fuel to solve the nations deteriorating fossil fuel sources. In return for all of those things, the aliens wanted every single black American in return. The African American president and his democratic cabinet members were placed in the ultimate decision-making position because the president and two hundred people of his choice would be exempt from departing with the alien beings. The emergency gathering of the president and his cabinet was brief and to the point. Nearly every democrat in the room voted against the trade. Their conversation included arguments for human rights and took into consideration America’s dark past and how much progress has been made since then. They claimed that surely the samples of the resources provided by the aliens could be used for research and America would find a way to solve their own problems. The ultimate decision included no consideration of trading human lives for a relatively short-term solution.  

excerpt adaptation: 2 January The President called together his cabinet, all of who were white democratic men. They all gathered the next morning to discus the dilemma put before them. Joining the men was one of the President’s most trustworthy friends, Golightly, a white professor from a well-respected university; he was mostly of conservative upbringing, but nonetheless intelligent and valued in his community. “It is obvious why we are gathered here this morning,” said the President. “But I think I know where most of us stand on the issue at hand. It is in no question what we are supposed to do. We have progressed rapidly on the issue of civil rights that it wouldn’t make sense to go backwards. We cannot vote in favor of the trade and send the rest of my race to an unknown fate, even if our problems can go away.” The Vice President continued, “Why yes, of course. The democrat party has the upper hand for a reason. The people, especially minorities, trust that in a situation like the one before us, that we will support the people, no matter what race. Golightly, representing the conservative party, added to the conversation: “We have to take into consideration the benefits of this scenario. Surely, if the black American’s are traded, America will be in a Golden Age for decades to come. Most of all the people that called in favor of the trade were conservative white families thinking about the future of our country. Think about how devastated they would be if we turned down this opportunity.” He went on, “Don’t forget sir that you are omitted from the trade; you and two hundred others of your choice. Please we have to think about both options. And think about the trade in a positive light. These people up for offer would be leaving to better this country, to help everyone in the long run. We can display the trade in the media this way. You can tell people that they are going to be heroes, and that they will be going to a better place.” The President thought for a moment of the prosperity the trade would bring, but ultimately was not convinced. “It wouldn’t be right. Black, white, Hispanic, Native American, everyone is a living human being and this is no longer a topic of question,” The President said making up his mind.

analysis:  After completing the adaptation on Bell’s original piece, I was more aware of how the conservative party was displayed in the story. The original text shows the conservative party as racist and as people who value wealth over the people’s well being. As shown here, while describing the country’s dire straits, “..it was a time of crisis…. Decades of conservative, laissez-faire capitalism had emptied the coffers of all but a few of the very rich (Bell 162).”  Here, crisis is emphasized and linked to the conservative party and the use of “laissez-fair”, a policy of not interfering, shows that the conservative party, in power for decades, did nothing to help the people that needed it the most, but instead let the rich collect wealth. The evidence implies that even when the county needed help the most, the conservatives in power did not care about people, but rather focused on money. Bell also shows the conservative party with racist values. During the cabinet meeting, the Secretary of Health says “A large percent of blacks rely on welfare and other social services. Their departure would ease substantially the burden on our state and national budgets (Bell 164).”  In this quote not only is money placed above human life, but also a clear racial division is present.  The black Americans are separated from “our” nation and state, as if an unrelated group of people that is associated with being a “burden”. The underlying idea present in this comment is that the conservatives view black Americans as separate from the rest of the people in the nation. This idea can be further supported with the exchange between Golightly and the Secretary. The secretary, numerous times, refers to the black Americans as “your people” when speaking to Golightly. The word choice deliberately separates the blacks as a group of people removed from the general population. It further implies the conservative party as people that view themselves as a superior group of people over the “lesser” races. As stated by the Secretary directly, “I don’t even think black people are that stupid…talk about patriotism, about the readiness of black people to make sacrifices for this country, about how they are really worthy citizens no matter what some may think (Bell 172).” This quote implies the Secretary doesn’t see himself as stupid because he isn’t ignorant enough to think the black people would believe false claims. However, he does see the black race in general as having a lower level of intelligence because he thinks they can be fooled into agreeing to the trade with a speech that will make them feel important. The quote actually implies the opposite of what it says because the true nature of the speech is to be a false ideal speech in order to ease the black Americans into the idea of leaving the country at their own will.  Overall, in Bell’s story, “The Space Traders”, the conservative party is shown in a negative light. They are displayed as selfish white people who think they are superior to blacks. When I wrote the adaptation I switched the party in power to the democrats and ultimately the fate of the black race was changed because the values of the democrats were opposite of the conservatives. When analyzing the original text I was drawn to the way that Bell displayed the conservative party and how much blame he placed on them, not on white people as a whole because the liberal white people in the story were against the trade and were even a part of the Anti-Trade Collation.

[davidxma-blog]

Literary Adaptations - Space Traders

Space Traders: After the Abolishment Summary: Although there were a thousand African Americans, along with their families, that were allowed to stay in the United States of America, there were only a couple hundred left. Immediately after the purge, most African American families (who could afford it) found passage, primarily to Europe, out of anger at the system; anger at the discrimination that has been shown to their race once again, a problem that they thought was resolved almost a century ago. The African Americans left were no longer discriminated against, and were actually highly regarded, as people generally felt horrible about their ultimate discrimination. The President called a board meeting to discuss their options. America, although given riches and prosperity, was not able to foster this for long. As the business economy lost twelve percent of their market, economy plummeted as a result. With African Americans making up a huge portion of various aspects of the entertainment industry, Hollywood and sports leagues such as the National Football League and National Basketball League completely crashed; their combined revenue dropped more than 60%. Various aspects of the economy were also incredibly short-staffed, as thousands of scientists, doctors, computer-engineers, janitors and garbage men were all gone. Whites with low-income were slowly aggregating at the bottom of the social ladder with the purge of African Americans and so they responded by severely discriminating against Hispanics, Asians as well as another other foreigners to feel supreme. Crime rates were at an all-time high. The gold the space traders left behind cleared the government’s debts. However, the promised year of taxes never came, as the government became stronger and more powerful. The special chemicals to un-pollute the environment were used but the safe nuclear engine and fuel became monopolized as further drilling of fossil fuels was outlawed. The exorbitant prices charged for energy further increased the economic gap between the rich and poor. America was corrupt. Adaptation: As the space traders thanked the President for the exchange, they left exactly what they promised: cargos of gold, a miracle chemical to un-pollute the environment, and a nuclear fuel engine that was safe for the environment. Big businesses were outraged at the decision for the trade and bloodthirsty for revenge; they teamed up to form a coalition to withdraw support for the president and fund campaigns to impeach the president. With their combined efforts and control over the media, it looked as if it was surely going to happen. They would not cease their attack until the President contacted the space traders and give back what their loot in return for the African American population. The president, realizing that this was becoming a serious problem in his career, with impeachment looming as a likely outcome, called a meeting with leaders of the big businesses. “Have you met our demands, Mr. President?” asked Robbie Harkenton, leader of the coalition. “Your demands aren’t possible, we are no longer able to contact the space traders,” replied the President, “but we have another alternative. We will use the gold from the space traders to pay off the national debt, but the rest will be split amongst the businesses to make up for the lost capitol.” “But that’s not enough to make up the drastic loss that we’ve had to endure,” said Robbie, “give us control over the nuclear fuel as well and we will have an agreement.” The President pondered over this, as this would essentially be giving up everything he has gained from the transaction with the space traders. However, he has already cleared up the national debt, something no one else was able to do for decades, and with the big businesses on his side, the control over the media will be able to paint him in a positive light and he would be remembered as a hero to his country. “Deal”, said the President.

[yourandy96]

Literary Adaptation

Space Traders

It is the beginning of a new year. Great hopes and aspirations fill the air, however the harsh economic conditions of the United States truly overwhelm such ambitions. Carbon emissions beat upon the many citizens of the great cities in the country and as people try to carry on with their days, they cannot help but notice the foreboding signs of the fall of what once was the greatest nation in the world. However, the many citizens of the United States will soon be faced with a life-changing decision, a decision that will do nothing but uplift the nation to its success and greatness once again. But, there is a price to pay, a sacrifice to be made, in order obtain such assistance.

That afternoon, as people went on with their day, a sudden ear aching noise burst throughout the air, as if forty fighter jets broke the sound barrier simultaneously. Everyone began to panic and suddenly an enormous space craft breaks through the smog in the air, letting through the bright light of the sun.  The spacecraft gently descends onto Lincoln memorial. Truly a thing of unmeasurable beauty, everyone just stared at the spacecraft in amazement, they had become hypnotized as if they had seen the heavens descend upon the Earth. Then there was silence. Nothing and nobody moved, the only sound that was heard were the gentle gusts of wind. The spacecraft then releases pressure and a door is opened in which an Extra-Terrestrial being came out from. Although people were shocked at seeing such a strange creature, however the strangeness of the people looked upon the creature as if it were their savior—someone who would save them from their hardship and ultimately be the key in finding paradise.

The creature walked forward and announced, surprisingly in English and no accent was noticeable in the creature’s speech:

“My crew and I visit you all not to bring you harm, but rather to bring you aid and guidance. We offer you, the United States, the key to safe and renewable energy which will do nothing more than clear your skies and clean the pollution you have put upon this beautiful world. Also, we have treasure that will improve your economy to the greatest heights, ultimately completely relieving the nation’s debt as a whole. All of this can be yours if we can be given something in return. What is that something you may ask? Well we ask for all the African Americans who reside in the United States. If you are able to meet this request of ours, you will soon be in your own paradise here on Earth. You have seventeen days to decide, please I remind you if you do not want to go about this trade of ours no harm will be put upon anyone of this world.”

Silence was all that was left after the creature’s speech, jaws were dropped and people were astonished. Although many were happy to hear such a proposal was offered, however there were also many who were saddened by the sacrifice that was needed to take place. Before any unanimous decision was to be made by anyone one of authority, in the distance a white male stands up and speaks:

“I do not see why our fellow African Americans must be the only who sacrifice for this so called space trade. My country has given a lot to me, it is time for me to give onto my country.”

The man then walks upon the space craft and the creature surprisingly accepts this man’s sacrifice. Suddenly, swarms of people begin going upon the space craft sacrificing themselves for the good of many. Although many were scared for what was to come, they were still happy to have saved their nation for their future generations.

Once the creature felt the trade was met, he then fulfilled his end of the agreement and flies off into space. But what is to happen next, well we will just have to wait and see. Will this opportunity be used wisely and for the greater good, or will people fail and lose paradise once again?

[melissaashleybrooks]

Analysis 4

"The Space Trader's" describes the aliens both as " good-guy folks in comic books" and as "no-nonsense folks like regular Americans" from the white American's perspective. While other evidence supports that they are bad from the African American's perspective as "distinctly unpleasant, even meanacing in appearance" casts a new light. Together, these latter pieces of evidence imply that because the white American's are not the ones up for trde, their perspective on the aliens is lighter, maybe perhaps to justify their later decisions to trade the black Americans. This means that the views of the aliens are opposing from each race because of the situation at hand and encourages readers to consider the problem of racism that is hevily present in the text.  

[yourandy96]

Analysis 4: Space Traders

By describing Golightly both as a person who, “dreamed of… a moment… that would enable him to perform a heroic act to both save his people great grief and gain for him the recognition,” and as , “… [rejected] by both whites and blacks… as untrustworthy [towards] himself and his plans,” Space Traders seems to support the idea that a man’s ambition, although initially deemed as good, can eventually lead to failure if that ambition makes that person blind from what they truly believe is right and wrong . However, “Golightly had failed, and he knew it, ”contradicts this notion. This evidence implies instead that even though someone’s blind ambition can lead them to failure, it is still possible to gain awareness of the faults we have made which is crucial in improving on those faults. This means that it is fine for individuals to have such astounding ambitions that allow them to reach new heights, however they must not be blinded by their own ambitions and goals—causing that person to go against their own personal morals.  If this blindness does occur than in order to improve the individual must recognize their fault just as Golightly does in Space Traders.