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​Fanuel Leul is an artist from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He "blends traditional elements with futuristic technology, creating contrasting and harmonious compositions. Influenced by Afrofuturism, my unique personal style showcases an uplifting theme, radiating joy and a sense of peace. I aim to portray Africa in a way that breaks free from commonly seen stereotypes and instead celebrates its vibrant spirit."

Serengeti Cyborg

Word Cloud

Here is another example of his work. What does it make you think of?

Match

What do the word parts mean in the word "afrofuturism"?

• afro-

• futur-

• -ism

Having to do with 'African'

the future

Suffix makes the word an abstract noun

• Having to do with 'African'

• the future

• Suffix makes the word an abstract noun

Open Ended

Afrofuturism is about imagining radical alternative realities. What does this have to do with environmental science?

The Marvel Studios movie "Black Panther" is adored by critics and audiences alike. One of its more striking features is its artistic style, which incorporates Afrofuturism.

The term "Afrofuturism" was coined by cultural critic Mark Dery in his 1994 essay "Black to the Future." Afrofuturism is an artistic style that blends science fiction and fantasy with cultures of the African diaspora — that is, the scattering of black people from Africa. Afrofuturism imagines a future utopia, or a perfect world, where black people are the thinkers and innovators moving technology along. Such ideas shake up our long-held ideas of history and race. 

Elements of Afrofuturism can be seen as far back as the 1950s. It appears everywhere from visual art to novels to comic books to music, by the likes of George Clinton and the jazz musician Sun Ra.

Multiple Choice

What inference can be made about how Mark Dery feels about the Black Panther movie?

• Sad that the movie was not what he wanted.

• He was very happy about the outcome of the movie.

• He hated the movie.

• Movie was very popular.

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of this section?

• The Marvel Studios movie "Black Panther" is adored by critics and audiences alike.

• ." Afrofuturism is an artistic style that blends science fiction and fantasy with cultures of the African diaspora

• . One of its more striking features is its artistic style, which incorporates Afrofuturism.

• None of the above

Many Influences Of Afrofuturism

"Black Panther" shines as an example through its storyline and design. However, recent projects from musician Janelle Monáe, film director Ava DuVernay, and others have helped to usher the term into mainstream culture.

Monáe released a trailer on February 16 for "Dirty Computer," a new album with an accompanying film. The 30-second trailer shows a dark future world, with the sound of screechy guitar feedback and snapping fingers in the background. Monáe's co-star Tessa Thompson is kidnapped by a man dressed in military gear. The video cuts to the two hugging on a beach. Seconds later, Monáe lies on an examination table while someone touches a mysterious tattoo on her arm.

Many Influences Of Afrofuturism

"They drained us of our dirt, and all the things that made us special," she narrates. "And then you were lost. Sleeping. And you didn't remember anything at all."

Monáe's work has exhibited Afrofuturist influences for years. Her albums follow a storyline she calls "Metropolis," where the singer taps into a character she created named Cindi Mayweather. Cindi is an android — half-human, half-robot — who was sent back in time to lead a protest movement against an unfair government.

"(Cindi) helps me write and she helps me talk," Monáe said in 2013. "When I speak about science-fiction and the future and androids, I'm speaking about the 'other.' "

Multiple Choice

What is the central idea of the section titled “Many Influences of Afrofuturism?”

• Afrofuturist has taken over. There is a lot of people that have done this.

• Monae help to shape Afrofuturism in many different ways.

• Afrofuturism is a really big thing that is helping people everyday.

• Monae only did a little to help shape Afrofuturism.

Multiple Select

Select at least 3 details from this section that demonstrate how Janelle Monae has helped with the concept of Afrofuturism.

• Monáe lies on an examination table while someone touches a mysterious tattoo on her arm.

• Monáe's work has exhibited Afrofuturist influences for years

• The video cuts to the two hugging on a beach

• Monáe released a trailer on February 16 for "Dirty Computer," a new album with an accompanying film.

Author Octavia Butler Stands Out

Her words engage with questions Dery brought up in his essay. "Can a community whose past has been deliberately rubbed out" imagine possible futures?

The science fiction novels of Octavia Butler used Afrofuturist aspects throughout the second half of the 1900s. Science-fiction writing is a space primarily inhabited by white authors. However, Butler prominently featured black women as main characters.

DuVernay announced in August that she would be part of the team adapting Butler's 1987 book "Dawn" for television. The story centers on a black woman who joins forces with aliens to bring back the human race hundreds of years after a nuclear war.

Author Octavia Butler Stands Out

DuVernay's film adaptation of the science fiction book "A Wrinkle in Time" is due next month. It stars people of color in the lead and multiple supporting roles. She also directed a futuristic music video for Jay-Z's "Family Feud," released in late December, which takes place in the year 2444, working back to 2050. It envisions a world led by women of color. The video features his daughter Blue Ivy Carter as a grown-up, guiding a group of women in rewriting the Constitution.

The Afrofuturist style has also been linked to Erykah Badu, Rihanna, Missy Elliott, Solange Knowles and Beyoncé's "Lemonade."

Multiple Select

Provide a pieces of textual evidence that supports the idea that celebrities and well-known people are embracing the style of Afrofuturism.

• DuVernay announced in August that she would be part of the team adapting Butler's 1987 book "Dawn" for television.

• Her words engage with questions Dery brought up in his essay.

• DuVernay's film adaptation of the science fiction book "A Wrinkle in Time" is due next month.

• The story centers on a black woman who joins forces with aliens to bring back the human race hundreds of years after a nuclear war.

Multiple Choice

What inference can be made about director Ava Duvernay and the celebrities in this section?

• They all are very involved in the movie black panther.

• Great people were very involved in the movie which help shapes how great it became.

• Black panther had a lot of people that were famous

• Beyounce stole the show of the movie.

Embracing Other Visions And Experiences

"Lemonade," as a New York Times essay put it, features a group of women whose appearances recall both "ancient and space-age societies."

These projects typically present black artists' visions of a revolutionary future. Coogler's "Black Panther" film, on the other hand, exhibits Afrofuturist ideals while set in the present day. Wakanda remains untouched by Western civilization. It is a utopian nation in Africa created entirely by non-white people. Wakanda embraces African traditions and scientific skills in its designs and practices, and the experiences of the hero, T'Challa, serve as a powerful contrast to those of the American villain, Killmonger.

Embracing Other Visions And Experiences

"T'Challa represents ... an African that hasn't been affected by colonization," Coogler previously told The Washington Post. "So what we wanted to do was contrast that with a reflection of the diaspora. But the diaspora that's the most affected by it. And what you get with that is, you get African-Americans. You get the African that's not only a product of colonization but also a product of the worst form of colonization, which is slavery. It was about that clash."

Multiple Choice

Describe Coogler’s depiction of Afrofuturism. In what way does he present Afrofuturism?

• comparing it to Lemonade.

• Compared to slavery

• Compared to Utopioan Nation in Africa.

• A form of colonilization.