Afrofuturism 2.0
The Rise of Astro-Blackness
Contributions by Tiffany E. Barber, Nettrice Gaskins, Ricardo Guthrie, Grace Gipson, Ken McLeod, tobias c. van Veen, Andrew Rollins, Lonny Avi Brooks, David DeIuliis, Jeff Lohr, Esther Jones, Qiana Whitted Edited by Reynaldo Anderson, Charles E. Jones
Not available to order
Publication date:
16 December 2015Length of book:
240 pagesPublisher
Lexington BooksISBN-13: 9781498510516
The ideas and practices related to afrofuturism have existed for most of the 20th century, especially in the north American African diaspora community. After Mark Dery coined the word "afrofuturism" in 1993, Alondra Nelson as a member of an online forum, along with other participants, began to explore the initial terrain and intellectual underpinnings of the concept noting that “AfroFuturism has emerged as a term of convenience to describe analysis, criticism and cultural production that addresses the intersections between race and technology.” Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astroblackness represents a transition from previous ideas related to afrofuturism that were formed in the late 20th century around issues of the digital divide, music and literature. Afrofuturism 2.0 expands and broadens the discussion around the concept to include religion, architecture, communications, visual art, philosophy and reflects its current growth as an emerging global Pan African creative phenomenon.
Do your interest lie in the connections between music, art, science and futurity as performed and lived through Black people of the African diaspora? Or, through your engagement with popular culture, have you heard the terms AstroBlackness, Black Speculative Fiction, Afrofuturism, or Black Futurism and have wondered what they mean or what they are? If you have asked yourself these questions and want a deeper understanding than what a good Google search can provide, Reynaldo Anderson and Charles E. Jones edited volume Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro-Blackness is the intellectually and culturally grounded place to begin your study.... Afrofuturism 2.0 should be looked upon as central read for anyone interested in the discourses of Africana diaspora and the future. For communication scholars focused on digital media, fandom, Black Geek/Nerd discourse, speculative fiction, science fiction or other discourses grounded in the Black imaginative— essays in this volume are foundational locations for depth in analysis. It is hard to imagine discussion on the rhetoric of Black Panther, Luke Cage or DC Legends without a functional reading of Afrofuturism 2.0.