Afrofuturism Research Paper

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Science fiction and fantasy have always had a major influence in my life. Few other genres exceed science fiction’s ability to portray the expansiveness of the human imagination. The ability to tell larger than life stories through film, TV, music, and art and more it what truly makes Sci-fi special. Science fiction novels, short stories, films and even music have the ability to allow interesting ways for society to reflect and discuss issues of today and the past. The genre provides an opportunity for the exploration of social commentary in new worlds where social problems can be thoughtfully represented and examined. Science fiction offers the ability to explore the political, sociological, philosophic, and cultural tensions in society. However, …show more content…

Afrofuturism is a practice, movement, and a methodology that allows black people to see themselves in a futuristic light despite both their past and present situation. Afrofuturism is an artistic and philosophical movement that puts black history and culture and the African diaspora through a science fiction lens. Ytasha Womack, the author of Afrofuturism: the World of Black Sci-Fi Fantasy and Fantasy Culture, explains the concept stating “Afrofuturism is an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation. “I generally define Afrofuturism as a way of imagining possible futures through a black cultural lens,” says Ingrid LaFleur, an art curator and Afrofuturist (Womack, 2013, p.9).” Over the last couple decades, Afrofuturism has risen in popular becoming a term that encapsulates many art forms and surges up feelings of awe and excitement within the black community. Afrofuturism as an expression first surfaced in the work of a man considered to the forefather Herman Poole Blount better known as Sun Ra. Blount was a unique jazz composer who mixed various African symbols, poetry, and philosophy with an extra-terrestrial theme mixing jazz music with space fantasy. The genre doesn't stop there Afrofuturistic expression was taken up by Funk musician George Clinton, becoming a notable musical genre Clinton developed an influential and eclectic form of funk music during the 1970s that drew on science-fiction, outlandish fashion, …show more content…

Dery in his assertion about the lack of African American with the science fiction space is profound for his shocking accurate connection. Pointing out how science fiction as genre highlighted by alienation, abduction, reinterpretations of the past, and speculations on the future offer an ideal means of artistic expression especially for African Americans. Ytasha L. Womack talks about this idea in her book stating “And many found the parallels between sci-fi themes of alien abduction and the transatlantic slave trade to be both haunting and fascinating. Were stories about aliens really just metaphors for the experience of blacks in the Americas (Womack, 2013, p.17)?” I think a major part of what makes some Afrofuturism and sci-fi genre so interesting is that it can act as an analog for the suffering and history of black people. Movies like District 9 although not centered around black people is clearly a film inspired by Afrofuturism. Focusing on a race of aliens that come to earth and are treated like second-class citizens. These alien creatures arrive on earth to make peace with humans however the reality of the situation is that they put in terrible rundown shelters their culture and resources used to for Americas on benefits and their identity stripped away. I think

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