February 13, 2015 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
James Memorial Chapel, 3041 Broadway, New York
Following the idea of a black radical tradition, African and African diasporic futurism refers to practices of technological agency to re-imagine the past and enact alternative possible futures in the material world. This convening considers the sonic and spiritual dimensions of futurism throughout modern black culture, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities presented by sound technologies that enable the creation of an alternative tomorrow, real or mythic. Presenters will consider the intersection of sound technology, spirituality, and Africana studies in a wide-ranging discussion tracing relations between colonial legacies, technologies of liberation, and social movements in the modern world.
Panelists include:
Alexexander Weheliye, Department of African American Studies, Northwestern University
Michael Veal, Departments of Music, African American Studies, and American Studies, Yale University
Beth Coleman, City as Platform Lab and Department of English Language and Literature, University of Waterloo
George E. Lewis, Department of Music, Columbia University, event moderator
The discussion will include a sonic performance by Haitian composer, percussionist, and turntablist Val-Inc.
This event is free and open to the public.
James Memorial Chapel
3041 Broadway at 121st Street
New York, NY 10027
Union Theological Seminary, West side of Broadway