In this episode of the Art of Citizenry Podcast, host Manpreet Kaur Kalra is joined by author Elaine U. Cho in conversation about her new sci-fi novel Teo’s Durumi. Together they unpack techno-orientalism – exploring how her work contends with capitalism, colonialism, and identity – and why using our unique lens in art matters now more than ever.

This episode invites you to think critically about how narratives of the future are shaped and who gets to author them. Elaine’s reflections on diaspora, cultural authenticity, and resisting reductive tropes are not just lessons for sci-fi writers, but for anyone grappling with representation in storytelling.

During this conversation, we explore:

• Identity & diaspora: Wrestling with the question “Am I ___ enough?” and writing through the tension of layered identities.
• Orientalism & Techno-orientalism: From Edward Said’s groundbreaking critique to sci-fi tropes that flatten and exoticize Asian cultures.
• Cultural Hegemony in Literature: Resisting the pressures of making her work “palatable” to a mainstream audience by embracing specificity, language, and cultural nuance.

📚Be sure to check out Elaine U. Cho’s book, Teo’s Durumi and debut Ocean’s Godori

Also mentioned in this episode: Edward Said’s 1978 book: Orientalism

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