Cotton

"An Afro Futuristic Fairytale" “Cotton” an experimental film inspired by the blood, sweat and tears of "Black" American history. Featuring an original soundtrack composed and produced by Monstah Black and costuming inspired by crops and objects...

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This was used as an introduction to the music video Talking shown at BRIC Media Arts. I like the ridiculousness of bad lip sync. 

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I’m feeling this. Great Sound! Great Mover! Great performance!

#doit #now #liannelahavas #livethehypelife

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Soundcheck at C'mon Everybody! #astrobeat tonight!!! The Illustrious Blacks and Dj Reborn!!! #manchildbkack #monstahblack Tonight!!!! free!!! (at C'mon Everybody)

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Tonight we Astro Beat!!! (at C'mon Everybody)

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All I Think About Is Cotton

So. I needed to take a much needed break from Cotton, as you can probably imagine. After years of picking, threading, stranding and sewing. Cutting, glueing, pasting. Writing, organizing, choreographing and producing, I would say February to June was a much needed break.

On June 5th I was honored to be able to screen 12 minutes of the film as part of the Performance Mix Festivals 29th Anniversary at HERE Arts Center. On this particular night it was wonderful to be sharing along side the creations of Alex Romania, Jaamil Olawale Kosoko, Michael Cross Burke, Daniel Diaz and Gian Marco Lo Forte and Michael Freeman.

Now that summer is underway I’ve already begun to tackle how to bring the next cotton ball costume sketches to life (cotton costume creation is not the smartest thing to do in summer heat-yikes). I’m also trying to gather up the strength to begin the next leg of crowd-funding, this time with an abundant of expert insight from some of the best in the field. This crowdsourcing will most likely include the announcement of the official launch of MONSTAH BLACK PRODUCTIONS!  YAY! KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT!

Monstah Black Productions is working on a world premier (which will include a cotton installation) at Dixon Place in 2016!!!!! This premier is a part of The Tommy Award 2015 I received (a year long residency and a run of the show to premier (currently untitled) !!!!!

EXPECT SPECTACLE!!!!! HUMOR!!!!! BALLS TO THE WALLS ATHLETICISM!!!! and maybe a little bit of THRILLER/HORROR :   ).

More to come!

Ciao!

Monstah BLack

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Cotton - Short clip - post performance discussion - The Kimball Theater - Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia - Video by: Dijon Marquis Miller

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Jim Crack Corn

Jim Crack Corn or the Blue tail Fly (1846)[2] When I was young I us'd to wait On Massa and hand him de plate; Pass down de bottle when he git dry, And bresh away de blue tail fly.  Jim crack corn I don't care,  Jim crack corn I don't care,  Jim crack corn I don't care,  Ole Massa gone away.

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I can remember my grandfather singing “There Will Be Peace In The Valley” when I was very small child.

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Field Holler

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Underwear Dress - Neck Deep

By: Monstah Black

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COTTON to be performed in Williamsburg in 2015

Va. folks!

Tickets will soon be available for COTTON performed at The Kimball Theater in Colonial Williamsburg. This will be happening on January 31st, 2015.

Stay tuned.

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The History of Cotton Debunks Many of the Most Popular Myths About Capitalism

Less than a decade ago, a historian interested in the rise of capitalism would have a difficult time finding a job in a history department. The closest thing scholars wrote about capitalism was called labor history, the story of the working class. Almost no one bothered writing about the flip...

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Black Friday!

Mom bangs out vintage punk rock songs on the old ebony and ivories while I scream at the top of my lungs. Working off yesterdays dinner with song and dance in search of new possibilities for "Cotton." #soulmusic #gospell #funk #punkrock #musicismylifeandsoisdance #collardsaregoodforlubeingthevocalcords #mycoreisstuffed #timeforadownwarddog #ilovemyfamily #magichappenswhenivisithome #werebothrockingallblackwithasplashofgrey #hashtagsareannoyingarentthey #icant #shesgoingtokillmewhensheseesthis