On November 4, 2016, the First Year Seminar “Afrofuturism: Black Art and Film of the Future” will be holding a symposium. Jada Fitzpatrick and Julianna Donovan are two of 17 students in the class and answered some questions about the event for us. More information about the event can be found at www.afrofuturismsocialjustice.com, on posters around campus, or by speaking to students in the class.
Christina Walsh: What is Afrofuturism?
Julianna Donovan: Afrofuturism is the extension of science and speculative fiction tropes in Black literature, film, music, and graphic art that works to expose the deeply oppressive nature of hegemonic society in America and the cultural vibrancy embedded in African American history by imagining alternate worlds and futures for Black peoples. Additionally, Afrofuturism functions as a social activist platform and unification tool that empowers individuals to express concerns on African American existence.
CW: What is the symposium for/who is featured?
Jada Fitzpatrick: The symposium is this grand and exciting opportunity to engage with the campus community and surrounding areas about the exciting things we’ve been learning this past semester. It features experts in the Afrofuturism field, from an academic, to a filmmaker, which reflects the expansive nature of this field.
JD: The symposium is for everyone at the college, as well as members of the New London community and students at nearby universities. Three invited guests- Professor Robin James, activist and writer Adrienne Maree Brown, and filmmaker M. Asli Dukan will be featured. Various past and present Afrofuturism students will lead panels and read original papers.
CW: Who is planning this event?
JF: Our whole [First Year Seminar, Afrofuturism: Black and Film of the Future] in partnership with Professor Reich is planning this symposium. The idea, however, was proposed by her class last year who didn’t get to carry it out. It’s exciting to see our individual work come together to create this collaborative effort.
CW: What is the importance of Afrofuturism?
JF: Afrofuturism is important because it allows for the discussion of issues that affect the Black community in an easier way so that society can understand it. For example, it’s discussion of the posthumanist aspect of the black community adds to the previous notion of African Americans not being considered human in the first place. The posthumanist movement within it allows for the oppressed to express their state of existence.
JD: Afrofuturism is a vitally important topic, especially in the realm of an academic campus, due to its universal significance as a revolutionary outlet for Black peoples’ concerns and contributions. As a relatively unknown and recently established field, Afrofuturism defies all categorization and constantly urges individuals to question the destructive elements of areas like capitalism, science fiction discourse, male-dominant art, etc throughout societal structures.
