NORMAN, Okla. Nia Ramsey, a graduate student in the Professional Writing program at Gaylord College, was honored with a top student paper award at the 45th Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPACA) conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The SWPACA is an interdisciplinary conference that celebrates the study of popular and American culture. Ramsey's research, focusing on the American animated web series RWBY, was recognized in the conference's science fiction and fantasy division for its insightful exploration of narrative spaces. She received a cash prize along with the opportunity to present her work at the conference.
In her paper titled "Thirdspace Traumas: Reconciling Reality through Spatial Narratives and the Animated Fantasy Otherworlds of RWBY," Ramsey investigates the series' portrayal of fantasy and reality. She describes RWBY as a series that challenges sociocultural narratives and examines the complex relationship between fantasy and reality. "RWBY captivated me because the series has always been one to shatter various sociocultural metanarratives and, as I personally believe, interrogate the integrity of our childhood memories through a dramatic reimagining of the relationship(s) formed between fantasy and reality," Ramsey states.
Her work employs Edward Soja's geographical theory of Thirdspace, a conceptual space where reality and imagination merge, facilitating a unique exploration of identity and reality. Ramsey's paper argues that "animated fantasy otherworld narratives (are) the key to understanding and restoring reality through their unique ability to invoke Thirdspace, which is a space embodied as a world that neither exists purely in reality nor in imagination and allows for unrestricted identity creation and reality restoration."
Speaking to her accomplishment, "This award affirms the relevance of exploring animated narratives in understanding our own world. Through RWBY, we see how fantasy can be a lens to reevaluate and heal our perceptions of identity and reality," Ramsey said.
Ramsey's academic interests are deeply rooted in speculative fiction, an umbrella term that encompasses fantasy, science fiction, and horror genres. She focuses on how narrative worldbuilding can influence sociocultural and political shifts, especially for marginalized groups. Ramsey will begin her doctoral studies at an Ivy League institution in Fall 2024, where she plans to delve deeper into the evolution and function of imaginary spaces within speculative literature and media. Her research will explore the interplay of these spaces with memory, emotions, and the creation of ideology through a queer and racial lens.
