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. Dec 12, 2016 in part, afrofuturism, an aesthetic dating roughly from the 1970s, has taken on a new public face through a new generation of recording artists erykah badu, missy elliott and janelle monae. With his spacey, egyptianinspired outfits and experimental music, the artist forged a unique, prolific path for nearly four decades. How a new generation is redefining african american identity. Womacks book afrofuturism is like having a fascinating conversation with a knowledgeable friend while sharing a generous cup of earl grey. Afrofuturism is intersectional, and, at its heart, about representation and fighting erasure through a kind of cultural activism. Dec 31, 2016 to apply afrofuturism in your everyday life, simply ask yourself one questions before you do anything. Afrofuturism can apply to the study of philosophy, metaphysics, or religion.
The world of black scifi, chicago, gaming, james heller, northwestern university, ytasha l. 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. Thus, comic books can be a medium that integrates afrofuturism as a genre by providing a fantasy setting and visual storytelling. Following upon her accessible and personable book documenting the. It came to my attention after production that black to the future, the title our editorial team thought up for alleys article, is the very same title as mark derys 1993 seminal afrofuturism article, referenced in this piece. Delaney, tananarive due, and nalo hopkinson, but what really makes it stand out is the inclusion of the comet, a science fiction story written by w. 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. 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. I liked the book so much that i ordered her fiction novel rayla 2212, along with the first akata witch series book by nnedi okorafor. Jul 19, 2014 video games afrofuturism frontier author media diversified posted on july 19, 2014 july 17, 2016 categories afrofuturism, gaming, interviews, jordan minor tags afrofuturism, afrofuturism. The world of black scifi and fantasy is a good place to start. She is authorcreator of the popfuturistafrofuturist novel 2212. Mar 03, 2019 afrofuturism is a topic that we have addressed on numerous occasions on media diversified. Womack, 108 in afrofuturism, we can move from a space where, as black people, we are expected to have.
The book is a 2014 locus awards non fiction finalist. Advertisement jordi oliveres is a musicianturnedjournalistturnedvideo producer. Jan 07, 2014 in 1993, mark dery created the term afrofuturism to describe science fiction by africanamerican writers such as samuel r delany and octavia butler, whose work treats africanamerican themes and. Afrofuturism by ytasha womack and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Womack is a filmmaker, futurist and the author of post black.
Both afrofuturism and rayla 2212, rayla 22 are taught in high schools and universities around the world. She is the creator of the rayla 2212 scifi multimedia series, the director of the award. Early voices in the afrofuturistic space include fiction writers samuel delany and octavia butler as well as musicians sun ra and george clinton. Mar 12, 2018 cartoonist, illustrator, and afrofuturist tim fielder explains the history and significance of afrofuturism and how it is portrayed in marvels black panther. Learn more about raylas time travel, reincarnation adventures through worlds known and unknown as she seeks to save planet hope, find the missing neo astronauts, and discover her true purpose. How a new generation is redefining african american identity and the coeditor of beats rhymes and life. Video games afrofuturism frontier media diversified.
Womack is a critically acclaimed author, filmmaker, dancer, independent scholar, and champion of humanity and the imagination. Free essays, homework help, flashcards, research papers, book reports, term papers, history, science, politics. Ytasha womack on afrofuturism breaking the glass slipper. 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. Feb 18, 2016 jazz legend sun ra is the patron saint of musical afrofuturism. Womack is an author, filmmaker, independent scholar and dancer. Black girl magic, yall cant stand it on afrofuturism. Ytasha womack afrofuturism imagination and humanity youtube. A century of speculative fiction from the african diaspora, edited by shiree r. She is author of the critically acclaimed books afrofuturism. Womack is a filmmaker, futurist, and the author of post black. If your answer to the question is ever no then stop. However, af takes on other modes as well, and its worth looking back on the emergence of the term to consider another understanding of how the concept was and is used. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture kindle.
Jun 21, 2018 womack is a filmmaker, journalist and author of afrofuturism. African american scifi heroes in 90s tv and film as ytasha womack points out in her book afrofuturism. The thoughtprovoking quality of those passages makes the bythenumbers history portions pale in comparison. Womack provides several useful definitions of afrofuturism, notably as an intersection. She is author of the award winning book afrofuturism. Nov 26, 2017 as a black woman, womack says that afrofuturism isa literal and figurative space for black women to be themselves. 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. In her book, womack discusses afrofuturism from its early beginnings in the seventies. Ytasha womack offers a primer on afrofuturism bitch media. Afrofuturism is a locus awards nonfiction finalist. In todays episode, i interview ytasha womack on what exactly afrofuturism is, where it came from, and what it hopes to bring to science fiction and fantasy. How a new generation is redefining african american identity and 2212. Afrofuturism is, in one aspect, a literary genre that includes speculative fiction imagining life and culture.
She is also the creator of the rayla 2212 sci fimultimedia series and author of 2212. Feb 12, 2018 afrofuturism fikayo adeola, founder of animation company kugali, said. 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. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture paperback october 1, 20. Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science and philosophy of history that explores the developing intersection of african diaspora culture with technology. Afrofuturism by ytasha womack overdrive rakuten overdrive. Four thoughts on the future of afrofuturism the outline. Book of rayla, first of the groundbreaking rayla 2212 series. 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 does an excellent job explaining afrofuturism to the reader in a way that is accessible and easy to follow. Afrofuturism also appears in art, visual studies, and performance. Womack is an awardwinning producer, director, author, and innovator. I highly recommend this book as it masterfully covers the genres humble past, its flourishing present and promising future.
May 07, 2018 afrofuturism may not be able to rectify an entire history of exclusion, but its impact, born of its attempts to answer important questions, is something that cant be ignored. From the scifi literature of samuel delany, octavia butler, and n. Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science and philosophy of history that. Pdf black girl magic, yall cant stand it on afrofuturism and. It was coined by mark dery in 1993 and explored in the late 1990s through conversations led by alondra nelson. Afrofuturism and black identity in art, culture and politics. Seminal afrofuturistic works include the novels of samuel r. Nov 18, 20 theres a mass of works that fit into the genre and if youre unfamiliar with the concept, womacks new book afrofuturism. Afrofuturism was a tool that they could use to imagine a better future, and the movement continued into the contemporary. Here, the focus is in the realm of scifi, where afrofuturism is defined as an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation through the lens of black culture 9. The afrofuturism series is produced by jordi oliveres, cale bonderman, gerry martinez and cesar alpuche. Among the first afrofuturists was pioneer sun ra, whose name derived from the egyptian sun god, ra. Womack, 100101 alondra nelson, a pioneer of the afrofuturism movement, would call afrofuturism a feminist movement.
Womack is an awardwinning filmmakerauthorjournalist and choreographer. Womack below, dressed as her character rayla is an author, filmmaker, dancer, and futurist whose past books include post black. Womack a multimedia artist will have you wanting to step on a star ship, meet androids, robots, extraterrestrials, and travel through time. May 11, 2017 in this way, afrofuturism ensures representation of black voices in a future, while they are still so often forcibly erased from their society today. A social media and pop culture expert, she frequently consults and guest ytasha l. Comprising elements of the avantgarde, science fiction, cuttingedge hiphop, black comix, and graphic novels, afrofuturism spans both underground and mainstream pop culture. The world of black scifi and fantasy culture by ytasha womack. The literary realm of magic realism overlaps often with afrofuturist art and literature. Film critic, journalist, and film programmer, ashley clark has curated inside afrofuturism.
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