Lydia Hagan

      The article for this week's blog is called, "How Afropunk Became a Full-Blown Movement," by Nikita Richardson. This article argues how the Afropunk Festival that started in Brooklyn has evolved into a cultural movement that celebrates black identity, creativity, and self-expression. the article writes, " This weekend, the black-centric fest will celebrate its eleventh year in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood, proving that it's not a blip, but a movement — one that's needed more than ever before." The article also discusses the origins of Afropunk and its evolution over the years, highlighting the festival's focus on black artists and its role in creating a space for black people to express themselves and connect with each other. Image of the Afropunk Festival Crowds      Richardson argues that Afropunk's success is due to its ability to tap into a larger cultural movement that is focused on black empowerment and liberation. She notes...

       For this week's blog post, I chose to read ""See You Yesterday" and The Perils--and Promise--of Time-Travelling While B lack," by Maya Phillips. This article argues that the film "See You Yesterday," uses science fiction to address issues of police brutality and systemic racism faced by black communities in America. In "See You Yesterday,"  we learn the story of a black teenager names CJ whose brother was shot by the police. This causes her to become angry and she uses time travel to go back into the future and stop his murder from happening. Image of CJ building and using the time-traveling machine      P hillips also argues that the film presents time travel as a means of confronting and changing past injustices, but it also shows how the past cannot be easily altered and how the present-day consequences of racism and police brutality persist.      The article also highlights how the film raises important questions about th...

For this week's blog post, I chose to read Aja Romano's article about Janelle Monáe's music video for "Dirty Computer." The article explores how Monáe draws inspiration from science fiction and Afrofuturism in her music and art. According to the article, Monáe spent many years crafting a dystopian universe where she wove themes of Afrofuturism and queer exploration into the story of her alter ego, Cindi Mayweather. Monáe described this alter ego, "a tuxedo-wearing cyborg," as how she hid from the real world. In her most recent album, "Dirty Computer," Monáe revealed that this alter-ego Cindi was actually Jane, the protagonist, all along. In the article, this introduction is seen as a sort of transformation. "Jane hides within Cindi's glammed-up but constricting tuxedoed aesthetic, but over time, by tapping into her cultural heritage, Jane is able to free the android via Afrofuturism and queer exploration." The album shows Monáe...