Does Jemisin's "The Fifth Season" solve the "X-Men Problem"?

The X-Men universe popularized a unique set of tropes common to fantasy worldbuilding: people with superpowers who are feared and persecuted by society. This trope is everywhere from the "Witcher" books/games/show to many popular YA novels, but it creates a particular set of problems when it comes to representing systemic oppression. In this episode I'll explain the "X-Men Problem" and why it's a common genre trope, and dive into the award-winning book "The Fifth Season" by N.K. Jemisin, which offers a refreshing, fascinating take on this issue. No knowledge of either the X-Men franchise or the contents of the book is necessary for enjoying the episode. For more podcast episodes and full transcripts of the audio follow the podcast on twitter @PopSocPodcast or visit: https://marinaberlin.org/podcast/ To support the podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/marinaberlin