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[jo808]

Blog Post #6 - “Walking Awake”

“Walking Awake” by N.K. Jemisin's short story was thrilling to read. My first thought when beginning this read was that it had parallels to “Get Out” directed by Jordan Peele. From the start, I understood that humans were being bred to serve as hosts for beings called “masters”. Sadie, the head caregiver, seemed uneasy about her work from the start of the short story, but it was not until I read about her dreamlike conversations with Enri that I fully grasped what was actually going on. Unlike “Get Out,” where black people were being picked to be hosts for old white people, there is an alien element to this story. Although the author doesn’t specify the species of the “masters,” it is clear that they are more like parasites than humans, breeding humans to live in their bodies. When a master chooses Enri as a host, it is revealed that the human hosts are able to think and therefore are trapped in their bodies, only communicating through this sort of dream-like space, almost an in-between reality and dreaming. It is here that Sadie communicates with Enri. The whole story was thrilling, and although disturbing, I was constantly excited to understand more about the world N.K. Jemisin was creating. The way she mixed dialogue with Sadie's thoughts and point of view kept the short story exceedingly interesting throughout the whole read. After reading it once, I realized there was also an option to listen to it. The listen was really captivating as the voice actor did a great job making her inflection match the different characters throughout the story. Sadie’s struggle to decide whether to sacrifice herself and create change, or to continue being a pawn in the system she now knew was so wrong, was interesting to me. I thought it was interesting how Sadie not only battled with her own morals but also knew she shouldn’t be thinking that way. It showed that this process that the masters have created is a deeply embedded and intricate system. All the hosts are numbers, given options to be on different plans, all designed to make them wanted by the masters. For example, when a master asked for a host that was skilled at dancing, Sadie’s co-worker suggested Ten-36 because “she opted for the physical/artistic track of training.” Then, when Ten-36 was brought for the transfer, she was described as “beaming.” This shows that the system is so normalized in this fictional world that hosts are actually honored and excited to serve as hosts. This was a chilling concept to me. Overall, the story was very interesting and made me reflect on a variety of concepts from slavery to revolution. I really enjoyed reading this piece and am excited to listen to more short stories now that I discovered the LightSpeed podcast.

[jo808]

Blog Post #5 - District 9

I am writing about District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp, more as a criticism of certain elements of the film, because I found many of them quite concerning. First off, the interviews throughout the film are primarily with white South Africans, which feels odd, knowing even just the basics of the history of this region. Even in the very first scene of the film, I was already stuck with an uneasy feeling I couldn’t quite pin down, but as I watched, even just ten more minutes, these feelings developed. When Wikus van de Merwe leads a team of officers into District 9, I immediately saw multiple aspects of the film that were quite disturbing. First off, because there is no clear centering of Black South African voices throughout the entire film, and because of the history of Apartheid, it is easy to feel as if the filmmakers are trying to draw similarities between the treatment of Black South African’s and the treatment of the aliens. This is extremely concerning because these aliens are depicted as gnarly creatures with scales and slimy tentacles. During Wikus van de Merwe's first expedition into District 9 in the film, he is “distracting” the aliens by throwing cat food for them, which is depicted as catnip for them. This would be fine if the film did not give the impression that these aliens were being compared with Black South African’s, but with this in the back of my mind, it seems extremely dehumanizing. Then, the narrators start talking about the various “Nigerian scams” that have been going on within the district, and things get more directly offensive towards Nigerians. They explain that the Nigerians are scamming the aliens by “selling” them cat food, which alone perpetuates harmful and racist stereotypes. In the same breath, there is described to be interspecific prostitution, which is the second strike of this harmful portrayal of Nigerians. To make matters worse, they say that Nigerians are dealing in alien weaponry and even go on to describe a Nigerian “headpin” named Obesandjo who is portrayed as a scary, intimidating, military camo-wearing man. These elements, separate and even more so on top of each other, made me extremely uncomfortable and disturbed. After some very basic research, I found that District 9 is banned in Nigeria because of its poor depiction of Nigerians throughout the film. In this very brief discussion of the disturbing plot line of District 9, I am already put off by this movie, which could have been handled better. 

[jo808]

Blog Post #4 - Sorry to Bother You 

I thought Sorry to Bother You, directed by Boots Riley, was not only entertaining but a great commentary on societal issues. Issues of corporatism and capitalism are a constant topic of discussion in the news, on social media, and in my conversations with friends. I thought, Sorry to Bother You took a creative spin on this topic. The incorporation of the half-animal, half-human beings was a great commentary on slavery and labor exploitation. I especially enjoyed the progression of the plot, which started off as a funny, exaggerated social commentary and then became more of a societal critique. I appreciate how the topics of corporatism, capitalism, labor exploitation, racial identity, and class inequality are all woven throughout the film in ways that are sometimes absurd and realistic at the same time. The scene where Cassius goes into the bathroom to find the half-human, half-horse locked up was comical yet disturbing. I thought it was such a smart way to show how horrible slavery and exploitative labor are in a way that is not only sort of funny, but more so exaggerated. These topics are constantly talked about in the news, so this movie felt very relevant. I often see stories about Amazon workers being exploited and overworked, or the harmful labor exploitation of fast fashion. 

I also found the aspect of conformity exceedingly interesting. There was a constant juxtaposition between conforming to the pressures of corporate America and sticking up for what's right. I thought the scene of Cassius crossing the picket line was especially powerful in a way. At school this past few years, we have had so many strikes, and it's always a topic of discussion among my professors and classmates. Just last week, I spent about 30 minutes of class talking about the upcoming staffing strike. I also thought the film did a good job showing how easy it is for people to become entranced with money and success. Cassius starts off struggling to pay rent to his uncle, barely making it by, and relying on the support of his friends/girlfriend, then, as he gets moved up to the secretive upper level to become a power caller, he quickly spirals into a world of greed, becoming disconnected from his people. I thought this was a good reflection of how the corporate world can pressure people to prioritize personal gain over collective well-being. Overall, I thought the film was both entertaining and thought-provoking because it used comedy and surrealism to address serious social and economic issues that remain relevant today.

[jo808]

Blog Post #3 - Parable of the Sower and General Thoughts of Afrofuturism

As I finished Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, I found myself sad, longing for more, wanting to continue immersing myself in the world Butler so vividly created. Although I have read excerpts of Butler’s work, I have never read an entire book of hers. After reading Parable of the Sower, this definitely will not be my last of her novels. I found her work exhilarating and, at the same time, caused myself to reflect deeply, connecting what was happening in the book to real-world experiences. I was especially intrigued by the character Lauren Olamina. Her bravery and imagination were awe-inspiring, given the circumstances in which she lived. I found myself constantly impressed by her character development and always eager to learn more about her journey. Octavia E. Butler wrote such an invigorating book that gracefully offered commentary on real-world issues through digestible, exciting science fiction. Through Parable of the Sower and the other works we have discussed in class, I have developed a strong appreciation for and love of the Afrofuturism genre. 

What I have grown to like most about the genre as a whole is its social commentary. I like how most, if not all, of the works we have talked about have explored or offered commentary on real-world issues. As an avid non-fiction reader, I often forget the importance of non-fiction. I sometimes just think that I want to read about “real” things. Through reading Parable of the Sower, especially, I have become reinvigorated with a love of non-fiction. I now appreciate how genres such as Afrofuturism do allow you to learn about “real” things just in a much more exciting and creative way. I appreciate that these works, like Parable of the Sower, exaggerate real-world issues to make them shocking and seemingly obscene. I think this gives readers the opportunity to understand these issues and the scale they can reach without changing anything. For example, I think that, in many ways, people do not understand or appreciate how detrimental climate change is and will be, but through various works, one can better grasp how this issue could expand. I also think the addition of Lauren’s hyper-empathy helped readers' own empathy ignite. When Lauren explained her feelings when she saw someone else in pain, I began to have a greater appreciation for not only her pain, but the person who was injured. I think its imporant that we have more empathy in this world. Sometimes these days, we hide behind our screens and so easily dissociate from tragic events happening in the world, but Lauren cannot do this, and, as a reader, this deepened my empathy as a whole. I am excited to dive deeper into this genre! 

[jo808]

Blog post 2 - Parable of the Sower

Blog post 2 - Parable of the Sower

Explain TWO (2) real-life issues that make it necessary to create your Earthseed community. What are you seeking shelter from?

Two real-life issues that I could imagine creating a need for me to build my own Earthseek community would be climate change and war. Climate change is an ever-changing and ever-growing issue that threatens to drastically alter life for us and, in some places, has already done so. In this case, I would be seeking shelter from rising sea levels, changes in global temperatures, and natural disasters. War, especially with the possibility of nuclear war, is a constant threat. If a war or multiple wars broke out in the United States, I would be predominantly seeking shelter from their violence. 

Quote two (2) Earthseed verses from Parable of the Sower and show how you will apply them to your community. You may be creative in your interpretation.

“All that you touch You Change. All that you Change Changes you. The only lasting truth Is Change. God is Change.” 

The quotation shows that we must adapt and remain flexible in the face of change. To apply this to my community, we would collectively understand that what may seem like a failure is really just redirection, and that everything can and will change; therefore, we must be ready and open to it. 

“There is no end to what a living world will demand of you.” 

This quotation is similar to the previous one; it is primarily about change, but adds another layer of the hardships this world might throw at you. To integrate this into my community, we would have a collective notion og not being afraid of tough things, but being prepared and ready for them, as they are inevitable. 

Explain WHERE you will create your Earthseed community to be safe.

I would choose to create my community, ideally, up in the mountains, where snowmelt provides access to fresh water. I would want the community to be in some sort of a valley wherree mountains protect it on every side. I imagine a mix of fields and forest, with good soil for growing food and trees for timber. 

Who can join your community and why? Who can’t join? Why not?

I imagine my community to be filled with all my favorite people. I would invite my family and friends to join, along with others with useful skills. I would want to have doctors, nurses, scientists, carpenters, engineers, teachers, and other skilled people who could truly add to the community in significant ways. I grew up with the sentiment that the more the merrier, so as long as one is willing to adapt and work with others, I would be open to them in our community. I would not welcome people seeking to cause harm and violence, or anyone with ill intentions, so that our community is a safe place. 

What will your leadership model be for your community?

I think that leadership is an aspect that can be easily taken advantage of. I would want a democratic system to elect public servants for our community. There would never be a single leader or a small group of leaders in charge, but rather elected officials who are experts in specific areas, managing and keeping our community running smoothly. 

Create a FUTURE TECHNOLOGY (one on the horizon, not something like teleportation or time travel) to help improve life at your Earthseed community.

A future technology that I would incorporate into my community is robots. These robots would help with manual labor, such as farming and construction. They would help transport heavy loads and pick up slack where we humans might struggle. The robots would also help protect our community. At the tops of the surrounding mountains, robots would patrol and alert us to any external threats. 

Explain/show how your Earthseed community will SURVIVE.

This earthseed community will survive primarily through hard work and perseverance. We will adapt to our environment and any challenges thrown our way, and stick together to help one another. The best we can do is work hard and prepare for as much as we can; we will be organized and practical. 

Explain/show what TWO steps your Earthseed community will make to build a better future, i.e. education, housing, conservation, farming, etc.

Two steps that this Earthseed community will take are placing a strong emphasis on education and practicing conservation to reuse and repurpose everything we have. Education is so fundamentally important, and all children and adults will be educated in a variety of subjects, from language arts to science. Our schools will not rely on grades but on practical assessments to gauge students' hard work and understanding. Along with all general education courses, people will learn trades and other practical skills like hunting, fishing, farming, and so on. Furthermore, our community will be self-sustaining and not harm the planet. Therefore, we will conserve water by limiting our shower time. Repurpose our trash for practical uses and instill a mindset of conservation among everyone in the community. We will not waste; instead, we will have deep respect for the earth and our land. 

[jo808]

AF AMER 112B - Blog Post #1

Children of Men Blog Post #1

I enjoyed watching Children of Men for many reasons, but predominantly because of the real-world parallels I noticed throughout the film. The current United States administration has taken a strict stance on illegal immigration, cracking down all across the country. While this movie was dramatized, similar images to those in the movie are what we are seeing on the news today. Outside of the film, the first few weeks of this class have been very enlightening. Although I have consumed some Afrofuturism media or books in the past, I had never taken the time to break down and reflect on them thoroughly. After digesting a wide range of media and genres within Afrofuturism, I have become invested in learning as much as I can about the genre as a whole. Although my own life has not reflected many of the common themes we have discussed in class, it has been great to dive into the class and put myself in a different person's shoes. 

Children of Men has many themes that stood out to me throughout the film. Some of these themes include: hope and faith vs. despair and destruction, societal collapse, fertility/reproductive rights, revolution, responsibility, and immigration. The theme I focused on most closely throughout the film was immigration. Scenes displayed immigrants behind fences, arrested, and beaten. In recent months, especially in the United States, immigrants have been treated as second-class citizens and highly scrutinized, even with official documented status. A scene that stood out to me was when Theo Faron, Julian Taylor, Kee, Luke, and Mariam were attacked on their way to a safe haven to protect Kee. After the attack, they were pulled over by police, and all immediately started pleading that they were British citizens and holding up their passports. This scene is not far from those going on across the U.S. right now. Many people of color I know are starting to carry their passports with them to avoid detainment by ICE. 

I thought it was jarring to see these strong parallels throughout the film. Despite Kee being maybe the only fertile and pregnant person on earth, she has great reason to believe that because of her being a refugee, she would be taken by the government and experimented on. Refugees are given the derogatory name of “fugees,” and at one point, the people in the car are discussing what would happen if they brought her to the government. They unanimously decide this is not a safe option. This shows that even in a global crisis (international infertility), immigrants are treated with no humility. 

Consuming fiction is such a powerful way of breaking down real-world concepts into sometimes more digestible forms. Children of Men is no exception to this. The movie takes place in a near-distant world that is extremely relatable despite its futuristic setting. Afrofuturism as a whole has the power to create worlds that are Sci-Fi yet relatable to consumers, and therefore easy to become emotionally invested in. I am excited to learn more and consume more Afrofuturism media throughout the rest of the class and beyond.