*Wildseeds: The NOLA Octavia Butler Emergent Strategies Collective is presenting Cosmic Belonging: A Conversation on Afrofuturism, Sustainability, and Dreaming Black Into the Future. See more information about it in the picture below.
*John Jennings and Stacey Robinson has released their comic, Kid Code: Channel Zero via Rosarium Publishing. Here is the description of it: “Kid Code: Channel Zero is a rollicking, cosmic, time-traveling adventure, fusing classic hip-hop culture and outlandish sci-fi fantasy in this alternate universe to create the ultimate mash-up.
Everything’s a remix! And Kid Code and his comrades must fight against The Power, who eons ago sampled the first sounds made from the God MC and created the Dark Mix (a version of the universe that was never intended).
Now there’s a race against and for time throughout the universe to assemble The Everlasting Cosmic Mixtape–nine tracks that can re-assemble the God Sample and help set things back on course.
The adventure starts here in Kid Code: Channel Zero.”
*Daily News’ “Run-DMC’s rapper Darryl McDaniels launches new comic book line:” “The newly minted comic company, Darryl Makes Comics, is ready to debut its first novel, ‘DMC’ at New York Comic Con in October. Darryl McDaniels portrays himself as a superhero instead of a rapper in the graphic novels.”
*A Killing in the Sun, a collection of speculative fiction from Africa, was recently released: “It draws from the rich oral culture of the author’s childhood, to tell a wide variety of stories. Some of the stories are set in a futuristic Africa, where technology has transformed everyday life and a dark force rules. Others are set in the present day, with refugee aliens from outer space, ghosts haunting brides and grooms, evil scientists stalking villages, and greedy corporations creating apocalypses. There are murder mysteries, tales of reincarnation and of the walking dead, and alternative worlds whose themes any reader will identify with. This collection is deftly crafted, running along the thin boundary of speculative and literary genres.”
*i09’s “You Want More Diversity in Your Pop Culture? Here’s How to Find It:” “Many fans are demanding more diversity in comics, movies and TV. What you may not realize is that there’s already a community of creators producing stories about diverse characters. Now is a great time to get into their work.
‘Many of the people who have been calling for more diversity are still not supporting those who are creating diverse materials,” says Brandon Easton, a writer for the Eisner award nominated Watson and Holmes comic from New Paradigm Studios, “the true problem is that so many geeks of color are hardwired to mainly support mainstream shows, movies, comics and novels so they are deeply reluctant to give new creators of color a chance out of a fear of supporting low quality material. There’s also a strange and unfounded assumption that, for example, a black writer of speculative fiction will hide an “agenda” within their stories and this so-called agenda will disrupt the flow of an escapist tale.'”
*Speaking of diversity here are a few posts from Valjeanne Jeffers, Chronicles of Harriet and Atlanta Blackstar’s Blerds featuring works from creators of color.
*Phenderson Djèlí Clark’s “The “Other” Histories of Fantasy:”From the clothing, to the weapons to the names, to the folklore, fantasy is dominated by a fascination with medieval Europe. When I was a kid, I would often place myself into my favorite fantasy realms from literature–the lone PoC, complete with knight’s gear, somehow sucked into a medieval European-based world. As I got older, and a bit more cognizant on the issues, I’d actually root for the swarthy bad guys–because at least the Haradrim and their giant mûmakil came from someplace that veered away from the Eurocentric norm. Yet even then, as I tried to create my own fledgling fantasy tales early on, I found my mind sometimes unable to imagine beyond broadswords, armor, medieval castles, dwarves and lots and lots of SNOW.
What the heck did a more “tropical” medieval fantasy world look like? What other weapons did I slay trolls with? For that matter, were there trolls or “things-like-trolls” outside medieval Europe? If so, what were they called? (It would take a few college courses to ask whether I should feel the need to go beating up on trolls to begin with…but again, whole notha’ blog) How about my armor? Did this non-European place have mages? Cuz I’m sure as heck not calling anyone a “witch doctor.” Are there taverns outside medieval European fantasy realms, and if so, do they still carry ale? Do all non-European dwellings for people who don’t live in cities get called some version of “hut?” And how exactly is a “spear” different from a “lance” anyhow? I didn’t know where to begin!”
*Black Radical Imagination released tour dates for upcoming screenings. The next one will be at Los Angeles’ Redcat on November 10th featuring films and videos “about communing with the spiritual realm as a historical practice and point of collective memory. Works include Lewis Vaughn’s The Baptist (2012), Jeannette Elhers’ Black Magic at the White House (2009) and Black Bullets (2012), Lauren Kelley’s Get the Bones from 88 Jones Because She Also Eats Meat (2008), Sanford Biggers & Terence Nance’s Moonrising (2013), and Vashti Harrison’s Field Notes (2014). John Akomfrah’s Memory Room 451 (1997) complete, the evening.”
*The first film from Nexus Networks and Iland Boy Films, Soucouyant, which was shot in St. Lucia, has a trailer out:
*Kickstarter for Dennis Leroy Kangalee’s Octavia: Elegy for a Vampire, starring NewlyWeeds’ Trae Harris. The film, Octavia: Elegy for a Vampire (or Endless Shards of Jazz for a Brutal World), is a narrative feature film about a 150 year old African-American vampire who wants to die due to the enduring legacy of colonization she sees celebrated around her. With a sun that refuses to set, a debilitating bloodlust, and deranged people who have no idea who they really are, our vampire not only drinks her own blood (as it is the only blood she can trust), but channels the strength of her ancestors to keep fighting amidst a world that refuses to learn from its past.
Part poem, rock opera, and “Brechtian” play — this will not be a traditional horror/vampire genre-film but a cubistic portrait of a woman trying to come to terms with the perennial problems of racism, misogyny, and the startling lack of consciousness in the world. Throughout her spiritual journey, we glimpse various chapters of her life as a cleaning woman, punk rocker, and activist. This film will bridge theater, film, and poetry in a unique way and seeks to contribute to and subvert the standard vampire genre. An essential project that has been in the works for four years, we have already recruited extremely disciplined and intellectually adventurous participants and have been blessed with an incredible cast.”
*Kickstarter for Urbance. Read more about it on Shadow and Act.
*Huffpost’s “Alexandria Smith’s Adorably Grotesque Cartoons Explore What Little Girls Are Made Of:” “From the perspective of a parent, a child comes across as a glowing angel. From the perspective of a stranger, a child can appear either as a doughy bundle of cuteness or a miniature devil creature, depending on his or her perspective. But how does a child actually feel while inhabiting the tiny body of a not yet fully formed person?
Brooklyn-based artist Alexandria Smith certainly poses a good possibility. Her renderings of hybrid adolescence blend the exaggerated simplicity of cartoons with the constant in-between-ness of collage, yielding warped creatures at once appealing and grotesque, human and not quite.”
*Another Africa’s “Humble Jerry Cans Transformed into Striking Political Masks:” “Artist Romuald Hazoumè’s modern day reinterpretations of a traditional practice – masking – speaks volumes on cultural imperialism, black markets and death.”
*NPR’s “Meet Marilyn Nance: Photographer/Psychic?:” “ “We’re all endowed with these powers, and I think we just need to acknowledge that,” she says. “We’re all really special; we all have stuff. But it’s up to us to find out what our stuff is.”
*Next City’s “Walking Through the Art of “Black Radical Brooklyn:” I will be attending the conversations and will probably do a write up about them, too.
*Beatbox Botanicals’ Harriet’s Apothecary will return on November 9th: “Harriet’s Apothecary is an intergenerational, seasonal, healing village led by the brilliance and wisdom of Black Cis Women, Queer and Trans healers, artists, magicians, activists and ancestors. Our village, which manifests at the bloom of every Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter in Brooklyn, is committed to co-creating accessible, affordable, liberatory, all-body loving, all-gender honoring, community healing spaces that recognize, inspire, and deepen the healing genius of our vessels.”
*Liberator Magazine’s “African Astronomy Prior to European Colonization/Dr. Thebe Medupe (Film and Lecture).”
*CUNY’s Graduate Center will be hosting Philosophical Theologies and Philosophy of Religion in Africana Traditions on October 24th and 25th.
*Warp’s “Watch the album trailer for ‘You’re Dead!‘ and pre-order ahead of its release in October:” Flying Lotus’ “You’re Dead! is a shamanic pilgrimage into the psychedelic unknown of the infinite afterlife. A sonic, visual and metaphysical fusion of technological innovation and technical virtuosity that amounts to a transcendent, mind-expanding plasm that could only exist between our world and another.”
*New Music:
–Maggy Thump Show (mixtape Maggyzine)
intro: inspector fogg
1.charlotte gainesbourg – hey joe [sebastian rmx]
2.gitar – detroit lion
3.we are shining – wasted times
profile: monica mcintyre [recording artist]
4.kimbra feat. bilal – everlovin’ ya
5.dark sky – voyages
profile: science is fiction [author / afro-futurist / metropolarity]
profile: paul s. frosty [enterprenueur/event organizer]
profile : shawn theodore [multi-disciplinary / afro-futurist / artist]
6.darrow fletcher – we’ve got to get an understanding
–The Black Opera’s The Great Year. Okay Player article here.
–Georgia Anne Muldrow’s oLiIGARCHY sUCKS
–Prince’s latest albums, Art Official Age and 3rdEyeGirl’s PlectrumElectrum, streaming here
Sherese Francis: Futuristically Ancient 