Posthuman Heroes

This article explores whether narrative texts may help learners grapple with what it means to be human or indeed posthuman in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous (VUCA) world inclusive of biotechnology and developing artificial intelligence (AI). Narratives with a posthuman hero may provide access to a post-anthropocentric view described by Braidotti (2016) as life-force egalitarianism inclusive of all human, non-human, geo, cross-species, and transversal alliances. Definitions are broad – narrative includes novels, film, television series, visual art; hero is beyond gender, accessible and encompassing all with life force; posthumanism refers to popular culture and critical theory, with links to transhumanism. Underpinning this article is the notion that a hero or protagonist of a narrative may influence the learner, providing a metaphorical window to other lives, a sliding glass door to future possibilities or a mirror that reflects the audience. Therefore, learners who experience narrative texts through reading/viewing may empathetically grow their understanding of different characters who may confront or influence their thinking