In her book, she examines the history of this cultural and social movement born in the 1970s. Oct 17, 2016 it is a way of seeing, or as womack whose amazing book ive quoted many times says herself, a prism for evolution. Womack is an author, filmmaker, dancer and futurist. Womack, 100101 alondra nelson, a pioneer of the afrofuturism movement, would call afrofuturism a feminist movement. Science fiction stories from social justice movements by walidah imarisha 7 times the fifth season by n. Tales from afrofuturism and beyond by bill campbell 8 times octavias brood. Afrofuturism was a tool that they could use to imagine a better future, and the movement continued into the contemporary. Womack, 108 in afrofuturism, we can move from a space where, as black people, we are expected to have. Jun 21, 2018 womack is a filmmaker, journalist and author of afrofuturism. Ytasha womack afrofuturism imagination and humanity. Feb 12, 2018 afrofuturism fikayo adeola, founder of animation company kugali, said. The ideas and practices related to afrofuturism have existed for most of the. Watch nnedi okorafor in hbos afrofuturism documentary.
Afrofuturism is a topic that we have addressed on numerous occasions on media diversified. In fact, afrofuturism is at its best when womack digs in to the connections between science fiction and black thought and culture, like the use of aliens to explore the africanamerican outsider experience. She is the creator of the rayla 2212 scifi multimedia series, the director of the awardwinning film the engagement, the producer and writer of love shorts, and the coeditor of beats rhymes and life. Early voices in the afrofuturistic space include fiction writers samuel delany and octavia butler as well as musicians sun ra and george clinton. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture ebook. The fifth season is essential reading for every fantasy reader, and particularly those exploring essential works that exist at the intersection of afrofuturism and the fantasy genre. I highly recommend this book as it masterfully covers the genres humble past, its flourishing present and promising future. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture, it was an ageold joke that blacks in scifi movies from the 50s through the 90s typically had a dour fate 7. With a twofold aim to entertain and enlighten, afrofuturists strive to break down racial, ethnic, and all social limitations to empower and free individuals to be themselves. Womack provides several useful definitions of afrofuturism, notably as an intersection. Mothership is an example case on how discussing themes such as afrofuturism, or alternate histories of india, native americans or arabic cultures, really can create new, compelling stories that at the same time entertain and make the reader think about their central themes and surrounding contexts. Womack found afrofuturism to be a journey of selfdiscovery which she encountered before she knew it had a name.
Dec 12, 2016 with the diversity of the nation and world increasingly standing in stark contrast to the diversity in futuristic works, its no surprise that afrofuturism emerged, writes ytasha l. According to author ytasha womack, afrofuturism bridges so many aspects of our culture, from african mythology, art and hiphop to politics, comic books and science. Afrofuturism by ytasha womack overdrive rakuten overdrive. Dec 07, 2015 womack found afrofuturism to be a journey of selfdiscovery which she encountered before she knew it had a name. Womack, who talked about her film, a love letter to the ancestors from chicago, and her book, afrofuturism. Womack is a filmmaker, journalist and author of afrofuturism. The literary realm of magic realism overlaps often with afrofuturist art and literature. The term itself was coined in 1992 by the writer mark dery but the ideas go. Mar 03, 2019 afrofuturism is a topic that we have addressed on numerous occasions on media diversified. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture is one of the most comprehensive and relevant reads in the black science fiction realm to date. Womack will discuss her latest books afrofuturism and rayla 2212. All that fancy word means is that its the future dsystopianscifi world through an afrocentric lens rather than an eurocentric lens. Womack, saturday, january 24 at the centers headquarters.
She is authorcreator of the popfuturistafrofuturist novel 2212. Four thoughts on the future of afrofuturism the outline. For the most part, i really like most if not all of these contributions. Afrofuturism and black identity in art, culture and politics. The world of black scifi and fantasy is a good place to start.
Parker afrofuturism has been described as, the intersection between black culture, technology, liberation and the imagination, with some mysticism thrown in, too. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture is an anthology of a dozen personal essays written by ytasha l. Its a way to step outside the race box and escape expectations about what kind of music a black person should create if they want to be successful, says ytasha l. Theres a mass of works that fit into the genre and if youre unfamiliar with the concept, womacks new book afrofuturism. The discussion began with a skype conversation with writer and director ytasha l. Afrofuturism june 11 this is not a page dedicated to or about afrofuturismi picked the name as my musicianband name years ago from the book the third wave which has the first mention of electronic music in the future, its a must read for any electronic music fan. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture by ytasha l. Afrofuturism is, in one aspect, a literary genre that includes speculative fiction imagining life and culture. Following upon her accessible and personable book documenting the. Afrofuturism was a tool that they could use to imagine a better future. So hbos vice asked three artists, including our very own, nnedi okorafor, to share their thoughts on the concept of afrofuturism. She is one of the leading afrofuturist scholars and travels the world lecturing on the imagination. The world of black sci fi and fantasy explores black sci fi culture, bleeks. Womacks book afrofuturism is like having a fascinating conversation with a knowledgeable friend while sharing a generous cup of earl grey.
The resurgence of afrofuturism goes beyond black panther. Womack, 97816747964, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Afrofuturism can apply to the study of philosophy, metaphysics, or religion. In particular, i want to concentrate on afrofuturism the connection of the afrodiasporic races and science fiction. Womack is a filmmaker, futurist, and the author of post black. Womack is a critically acclaimed author, filmmaker, dancer, independent scholar, and champion of humanity and the imagination. In this hip, accessible primer to the music, literature, and art of afrofuturism, author ytasha womack introduces readers to the burgeoning community of artists creating afrofuturist works, the innovators from the. In this hip, accessible primer to the music, literature, and art of afrofuturism, author ytasha womack introduces readers to the burgeoning community of artists creating afrofuturist works, the innovators from the past, and the wide range of subjects they explore. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture none ed.
Books like the black panther that include and celebrate the african experience are called afrofuturism. Womack says, afrofuturism is where the past and future meet. The world of black sci fi and fantasy culture, explains that one of afrofuturisms key purposes is to explore race as a technology in a highly intersectional mode of viewing the future. The new york times named it a notable book for 2015. How a new generation is redefining african american identity and 2212. The thoughtprovoking quality of those passages makes the by. Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of african diaspora culture with technology. Afrofuturism is intersectional, and, at its heart, about representation and fighting erasure through a kind of cultural activism.
Rooted in works like those of science fiction author octavia butler, avantgarde jazz legend sun ra, and george clinton, afrofuturism explores concepts of race, space and time and asks the existential question posed by critic mark dery. Womack is available at in several formats for your ereader. Both afrofuturism and rayla 2212, rayla 22 are taught in high schools and universities around the world. Ytasha womack offers a primer on afrofuturism bitch media. Afrofuturism is an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation. Dec 03, 2015 afrofuturism emphasizes the intersection of black cultures and imagination, liberation, and technology. Nov 26, 2017 as a black woman, womack says that afrofuturism isa literal and figurative space for black women to be themselves. As a black woman, womack says that afrofuturism isa literal and figurative space for black women to be themselves. Theres an intimidating amount of material, and for the most part she provides a sense of the importance of each artist she discusses, most visible in her loving ode to the life and work of sun ra. Womack is an author, filmmaker, independent scholar and dancer.
This list of fantastic afrofuturism books to introduce you to the genre is sponsored by trazer. Aug 19, 2017 in black to the future, dery writesafrofuturism bridges so many aspects of our culture, from african mythology, art and hiphop to politics, comic books and science, womack says. It is a collection of essays about defining the term. Its a way of bridging the future and the past and essentially helping to reimagine the experience. The term, coined by cultural critic mark dery in his 1994 essay black to the future, refers to an aesthetic that infuses science fiction and fantasy with cultures of the african diaspora. Womack is an awardwinning filmmakerauthorjournalist and choreographer. For the past few months, fans have been connecting the dots between afrofuturism and the black panther superhero movie. Learn more about raylas time travel, reincarnation adventures through worlds known and. African american scifi heroes in 90s tv and film as ytasha womack points out in her book afrofuturism.
Comprising elements of the avantgarde, science fiction, cuttingedge hiphop, black comix, and graphic novels, afrofuturism spans both underground and mainstream pop culture. I was always really interested in science and history, and mythology, but i remember being just really taken aback by the fact that there wasnt. The thoughtprovoking quality of those passages makes the bythenumbers history portions pale in comparison. Whether its stories imagining african deities or shuri as a technological genius in black panther, afrofuturism expands our vision of ourselves. She is the creator of the rayla 2212 scifi multimedia series, the director of the award. Film critic, journalist, and film programmer, ashley clark has curated inside afrofuturism. Womack is a filmmaker, futurist and the author of post black. Womack a multimedia artist will have you wanting to step on a star ship, meet androids, robots, extraterrestrials, and travel through time. Ytasha womack afrofuturism imagination and humanity youtube.
But today afrofuturism is broader than this, reaching beyond derys initial remit to encompass writers from the continent of africa as well as those of its diaspora, seeking to explore, in the words of artist and educator, denenge akpem, what blackness could look like in the future. Ashe cultural arts center hosts a chat on afrofuturism with ytasha l. She is also the creator of the rayla 2212 sci fimultimedia series and author of 2212. Afrofuturism is certainly helpful for the uninitiated, and womack effectively communicates the depth, texture, and entrancing, almost mystical appeal of afrofuturism and the worlds it creates. Afrofuturism emphasizes the intersection of black cultures and imagination, liberation, and technology. Afrofuturism is the science fiction and fantasy of the african diaspora. A new generation of artists are exploring afrofuturism outkast and janelle monae take the philosophy to the mainstream, while flying lotus and shabazz palaces push jazz and hip. In black to the future, dery writesafrofuturism bridges so many aspects of our culture, from african mythology, art and hiphop to politics, comic books and. I was always really interested in science and history, and mythology, but i remember being just really taken aback by the fact that there wasnt enough perspectives from the african diasporic lens. She is author of the award winning book afrofuturism. Afrofuturism is a locus awards nonfiction finalist. Jun, 2015 according to author ytasha womack, afrofuturism bridges so many aspects of our culture, from african mythology, art and hiphop to politics, comic books and science. Jul 22, 2016 the new york times named it a notable book for 2015. May 07, 2020 on friday, 16 june, the romafuturismo library hosted a discussion at the tranzitdisplay gallery about afrofuturism and how it could relate to romani people.
On friday, 16 june, the romafuturismo library hosted a discussion at the tranzitdisplay gallery about afrofuturism and how it could relate to romani people. Among the first afrofuturists was pioneer sun ra, whose name derived from the egyptian sun god, ra. Afrofuturism, the world of black scifi and fantasy culture, from ytasha l. Afrofuturism also appears in art, visual studies, and performance. Afrofuturism fikayo adeola, founder of animation company kugali, said. With the diversity of the nation and world increasingly standing in stark contrast to the diversity in futuristic works, its no surprise that afrofuturism emerged, writes ytasha l. Introduction this article deals with the connection of race and science fiction. I generally define afrofuturism as a way of imagining possible futures through a black cultural lens, says ingrid lafleur, an art curator and afrofuturist. How a new generation is redefining african american identity and the coeditor of beats rhymes and life. Empowering and envisioning the future through afrofuturism. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture read our interview with womack here.
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