112b-barbods-blog-assignments

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #6

At the end of this Afrofuturism course, I’m really amazed by how much it has taught me on many levels. I thought I would be learning about science fiction written by Black writers through material like things such as Black Panther, a few short stories and other samples. The work we did went beyond what I anticipated. The course made me see further how race, history and identity are linked in ways that matter now and in the years to come.

Reflecting on the class, Pumzi really stood out for me when I watched it. Even though it was a brief film, the effect it had was strong. I enjoyed the simplicity and the way that silence played a big role. The world in the films looked parched, not just with lack of water but also without much hope. The main character managing all those hardships and still ultimately planting a seed in the ground for the future made me realize how strong an Afrofuturist’s resistance and faith really is, even in the face of everything working against them. It taught me that sometimes believing in your dreams or in something better is enough to change the world. It meant more to me than I thought it would, since there were moments in my life when I didn’t know what would happen next and I had to trust that things would change.

Dirty Computer also left me thinking about it for a while after watching it. Due to the unique way it mixed music, visuals and story, it seemed more like an experience or event than a normal movie. I enjoyed that the novel unapologetically explored being queer, Black and wanting to escape control. I was surprised by how much I felt for what the work said, especially that being “cleaned” or transformed into another person can feel common across so many situations. It made me realize that sometimes I’ve hidden parts of myself to fit in and it can really wear me out. It brought home the idea that living honestly, even when it’s different, can feel powerful.

The student works we examined in the last week were also very impressive. I thought it was neat to notice young people applying Afrofuturism based on their own experience and ideas. While the student’s didn’t have a huge budget or the greatest technology to work with, it was really interesting and inspiring to see and hear about the different stories. So yeah, this class wasn’t what I expected but in the best way possible. It made me think critically, encouraged me to see things differently and represented many people and their experiences that are usually ignored. I didn’t only discover the genre but I understood how people rely on their imagination for support, resistance and dreams. I actually believe we could all benefit from some more of that!

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #5

This last week in our Afrofuturism course made me feel like I’d been caught by surprise in the best way. We dug into stories that weren’t recognized as much as Black Panther or Dirty Computer, but I was very interested in the story and messages they represented. We focused on District 9 and Walking Awake during our lectures. Both pieces revealed to me that race must be considered along with how the power system works both openly and subtly. To begin, District 9 was a great example of how I was taken by surprise. I wasn’t prepared to connect with such a science fiction movie about aliens, because the focus and concept was centered on something else. The work described how people end up on the margins, only to be blamed for it! What shocked me the most was how Wikus slowly became an alien and began to be treated very poorly. I started reflecting on the idea that some people can only become aware of oppression when it impacts them personally. I’ve noticed this happen in my own life in which I have witnessed people who show no concern until negativity or struggles impact them or someone close. This film reminded me that any of us could end up on the outside and that it shouldn’t take pain for people to have empathy.

Jemisin’s story Walking Awake was another work we reviewed throughout this week. It wasn’t always easy to read, but this story really stayed with me. The idea that someone can be controlled by another being and that it happens so effortlessly is frightening. In particular, what caught my attention was how much the caretaker grew from obeying everyone to standing up for himself. It seemed like a moment when you just decided no more. I often consider this in relation to family and generational traditions through my own background. It is sometimes tough to reach that breaking point to fight back but it’s essential nonetheless.

Lastly, “Greedy Choke Puppy” and “Black Betty” were also really interesting in how they used folklore and certain ideas to talk about grief and freedom. At the beginning, I didn’t completely understand “Greedy Choke Puppy” but I thought it was so unusual that I liked it. Talking about transformation and spirits gives me a warm and somewhat uneasy vibe. “Black Betty” felt both like a ghost tale and a survival story. It reminded me of the way some members of my family discuss bad luck or spirits and how we get these ideas from family stories mostly meant to keep us safe. It’s becoming obvious to me that Afrofuturism isn’t really about escaping our world. We address major challenges, including loss, danger and inequality, hoping that something positive will come from it. It’s more than just something made up but It’s rather healing. That’s what makes me more interested in it than I thought I would be.

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #4

Since starting this class over six weeks ago, Afrofuturism has changed for me from a genre into a new perspective in my life. I imagined the content would all be about Black characters in future settings, but that’s only part of the picture. I have learned over the last few weeks that Afrofuturism inspires us to rethink history, our identities, justice issues and even memory. A number of the stories we’ve analyzed recently showed me this even more clearly. I found Lion’s Blood to be one of the most striking novels. The novel told a story very different from any other I’ve read before since everything I had learned about slavery, power and race was now reversed for me. The idea of African nations ruling over the world and Europeans being their slaves was extremely strange to read. It was a bit difficult to perceive but that was the reason it got the point across. It helped me become aware that many versions of history come across as normal just because I’m familiar with them. The author wasn’t only swapping roles to catch us off guard but he wanted us to think about things regularly accepted as normal. This really impacted me and got me thinking about changes in the past and in the future we might imagine. It also made it even more meaningful being able to hear him speak live during our lecture!

Herd Immunity felt a bit more familiar, but was still pretty hard to imagine since its themes were surrounded around struggle. I felt it was a story about our world on the brink of even bigger collapse. Throughout the story, I noticed the way the characters moved boldly without fear just like people who actively tried to serve and care for others in the worst of the COVID times. I liked that they tried their best to withhold their community even though everything else was coming undone and through all the struggles. I was amazed that the story highlighted how individuals try to support each other even in the most broken situations. Reading it gave me confidence and hope that prompted me to consider what I could do to support the people in my life community.

Reading Like Daughter also took me by surprise with how I felt. It was both highly personal and a little odd at the same time. Although the thought of cloning a missing child seems unlikely and science fiction, the way the novel was written focused more on grieving and being in control. I kept asking myself if it was right to clone someone solely for your own needs. It reminded me that sometimes people try to keep memories alive by revisiting things like pictures, old posts or even memories. The story left some loose ends and I appreciated that as well. It allowed me to feel and think without directing my response.

At this point in the course, I am discovering through the material that Afrofuturism challenges us to view our present day in different ways. These stories allow me to understand the current world by giving me other examples of what might have or could happen. They are artistic, moving and not as simple as most other novels. I’m grateful that we’ve gotten to read such a wide range of materials because each one brings something totally different, yet somehow they all speak to the same core ideas of change, survival, and imagining something better.

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #3

These past few weeks in class reminded me of just how creative and sometimes overwhelming Afrofuturism can be but in the best way. The works we looked at had this way of blending reality and fantasy, especially in how they showed systems like capitalism, race, or family history. Watching Sorry to Bother You honestly left me confused at first but I think that was kind of the point. The movie just hits you with so much all at once with things like telemarketing, code switching, animals combined with humans, and then suddenly you realize it's not just weird for the sake of it. It’s making fun of how we’re all trying to survive these broken systems and sometimes we do things we never thought we would just to “succeed”. I thought about that a lot because even though I haven’t turned into a literal horse human, I’ve definitely felt like I was compromising myself at times just to get by, especially in work environments. Something else that stuck with me was the music video for All the Stars. I’d heard the song a bunch of times before, but I never really paid close attention or watched the video closely. The visuals are so rich and it’s almost like they’re building a dream version of Africa that’s both futuristic and grounded in heritage. I liked how the video didn’t feel like it was trying to explain itself to anyone but just boldly existed. The combination of Kendrick and SZA made it even better because their voices blend beauty and pain in a way that sticks with you. I think what hit me the most was the message that maybe the future doesn’t have to look like what we’re used to and it can be extravagant, powerful, and unapologetically Black!

Something else worth including was Daughters of the Dust. This one felt different from everything else we’ve watched because it wasn’t loud or full of tech and flash. It was quiet and poetic but it still felt futuristic in its own way. Seeing generations of women pass down knowledge and memories through stories and rituals made me reflect on my own family. As someone with immigrant roots, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re part of a culture that’s fading or shifting. I thought about my grandmother and how the way she cooked or spoke certain words was like preserving history. That film helped me realize that Afrofuturism isn’t just about robots and spaceships but can certainly also be about preserving memory, legacy, and identity in ways that still feel like resistance.

I feel like this class keeps opening my eyes to how people use creativity to imagine something better. It’s not always clean or easy to understand, but maybe that’s why it works. The messiness is real and sometimes imagining something different is the first step to building something better. Also, It's always so interesting to realize how different messages and themes within these class materials could be relatable, and it makes it so much more fun to interact and learn with. These materials possess so much meaning, and being able to relate makes the meaning even more intense.

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #2

Looking at the world right now, it's obvious that we can improve the future for living, especially for people like me who are either immigrants, young folks, or both trying to build something real. My Earthseed community would be created because of two major issues. First, the crazy gap between rich and poor is making it almost impossible for young people to find affordable housing or even basic stability. Second, climate change is already here with things like fires, droughts, and heat making places like Los Angeles more dangerous every year. We’re not just preparing for "someday" since the need is right now.

I would want the motivation behind the community to be rooted in two verses from “Parable of the Sower”. One mentions "All that you touch, you change. All that you change, changes you." To me this means every member helps build the community, and every person grows stronger in the process. Another cites "God is Power - Infinite, Irresistible, Inexorable, Indifferent. And yet, God is Pliable - Trickster, Teacher, Chaos, Clay". The community would live by knowing that life will keep changing but if we’re flexible and smart we can shape our own future even through chaos.

I would build this Earthseed community just outside Los Angeles, probably somewhere around a valley or the various mountains nearby. It would provide room to grow and we can design the homes to survive wildfires and heat waves. Anyone willing to work, grow, and protect the community would be welcome, especially immigrants, refugees, and young people trying to find a safer future. We would not allow people who bring racism, selfishness, or hate into the space because that would tear down everything we are trying to build.

I think great leadership in the community would be shared through a council. This way everyone would get a voice and if leaders stop doing their job they can be held accountable and thus replaced. No one person should be above the group and leadership should move and adapt just like Earthseed teaches. As for future tech, I think solar powered water condensation would be beneficial to pull clean drinking water from the air. In a time of drought and wildfires, this could mean the difference between life and death!

Our Earthseed community would survive by blending traditional survival skills with new technology that we would introduce through evolving. Everyone would be educated to farm, repair, and take care of each other. To build a better future, we could start with free and helpful education for everyone and environmentally friendly homes that are cheap, safe, and fireproof. I believe that Earthseed is about adapting to change so our community would be proof that even in the middle of a broken world, it’s still possible to grow something strong.

[112b-barbods-blog-assignments]

Blog Post #1

These recent weeks of learning about Afrofuturism really resonated with me and not just because the content was different from what we had been learning before but also because of how imaginative and multi-layered everything was. I had no idea how wide reaching Afrofuturism was until this week. I thought it was just science fiction made by or about Black people beforehand but now understand how it's so much more than that. It's a reinvention of the future in terms of something like art, technology, and identity all mixed together as something visionary. When I was watching the "Black Panther" series, I really reassessed power differently mostly through characters. I grew up watching superheroes who were not reflective of myself or my peers so seeing this character in this animation world and in control of Wakanda with that Afrofuturistic background was powerful. It wasn't physical strength at all but rather traits like knowledge, leadership, and protecting something greater than you. It was as if a universe where Black people are not just surviving but thriving with better technology and an abundant history which really intrigued me. I appreciated how it represented hope and this notion of a better future although the episodes did have their own down moments as well and some other themes which we covered in class. On the other hand, "Parable of the Sower" was something else. I will be honest and say that it was heavy. The society Butler had constructed was startling because it echoed some relevant concerns that seemed likely to happen. Nevertheless, I also enjoyed how realistic it was. Lauren's struggle and her religious system were so unique, and I could not help but think about how she was always piecing together the chaos. Personally, I identified very much with that section and also felt sometimes like I am struggling to remain on course when my world is crumbling around me. While I have not had anything even close to the degree of chaos, I identified with her toughness and her capacity to see beyond the moment. Another form of media that we spoke of was Janelle Monáe's "Dirty Computer" which took me by surprise in visuals and conception. It was a music video, a short film, and a whole political statement all in one. I loved the way that her queerness, Blackness, and futurism wasn't just part of the story and instead was the story. I believe that even though it was flashy and artistic, it had substance. The idea of memories being erased or manipulated reminded me of how much history itself is erased or rewritten, especially of the marginalized. I loved learning and discussing the things that we have so far, and I am starting to see Afrofuturism as more than just nice art or futurism, but as a means of reclaiming. It's seeing a place where Black folks are not framed by oppression or trauma, but by possibility, culture, and innovation. That's something that really speaks to me because I know what it's like to want to retell the story you've been given!