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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
A good introduction to the history of Afrofuturism in everything from music to art to movies and literature. We hear mention of George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Janelle Monae, Octavia Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, Sun Ra and more. The book mentioned many books, movies and musical artists that I want to follow-up with.
tricapra's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely more of an academic primer than what I was expecting, but gave me a ton of guidance for art, music and literature to look for.
emmafluff15's review against another edition
4.0
Afrofuturism is an intersection of imagination, technology, the future and liberation.
Whether through literature, visual arts, music or grassroots organizing, Afrofuturists redefine culture and notions of blackness for today and the future.
I am not really into Sci-Fi or Fantasy but I am glad I read this book. I found it very informative and it was easy to read though I struggled with a lack of knowledge. I didn’t know many of the artists or authors mentioned in the book but that was part of the reason I wanted to read it. To help educate myself and I feel like that this book helped to do that. I definitely want to try some Afrofuturist literature.
I was helped by the Reading Women podcast, they had episodes which introduced the genre as well as discussed this specific book.
The book talks about the origins of Afrofuturism as a genre. It gives an overview of the racism and how it came to be, is and was used to keep black people down, for them to be less than human. It then goes on to discuss Afrofuturists in music, literature, art, comics etc.
This is an important book, though I know nothing of Sci-fi and Fantasy, I can see how the little of those genres I have consumed have had little or no people of colour in them. And I have wondered if you are in an alternative reality/different planet why wouldn’t BIPOC people be there. Simple answer I guess is the subconscious, and maybe not so subconscious, bias of people writing these books. Representation is important in whatever you are doing. There should be more BIPOC authors, characters, artists and reviewers.
It has left me with questions of why I read and what do I want from my reading? I obviously want to enjoy what I read but I also want to be shown a world that is not mine. I want to read about lots of different types of people that teach me something, and sometimes that might make me uncomfortable but I think that’s okay.
Whether through literature, visual arts, music or grassroots organizing, Afrofuturists redefine culture and notions of blackness for today and the future.
I am not really into Sci-Fi or Fantasy but I am glad I read this book. I found it very informative and it was easy to read though I struggled with a lack of knowledge. I didn’t know many of the artists or authors mentioned in the book but that was part of the reason I wanted to read it. To help educate myself and I feel like that this book helped to do that. I definitely want to try some Afrofuturist literature.
I was helped by the Reading Women podcast, they had episodes which introduced the genre as well as discussed this specific book.
The book talks about the origins of Afrofuturism as a genre. It gives an overview of the racism and how it came to be, is and was used to keep black people down, for them to be less than human. It then goes on to discuss Afrofuturists in music, literature, art, comics etc.
This is an important book, though I know nothing of Sci-fi and Fantasy, I can see how the little of those genres I have consumed have had little or no people of colour in them. And I have wondered if you are in an alternative reality/different planet why wouldn’t BIPOC people be there. Simple answer I guess is the subconscious, and maybe not so subconscious, bias of people writing these books. Representation is important in whatever you are doing. There should be more BIPOC authors, characters, artists and reviewers.
It has left me with questions of why I read and what do I want from my reading? I obviously want to enjoy what I read but I also want to be shown a world that is not mine. I want to read about lots of different types of people that teach me something, and sometimes that might make me uncomfortable but I think that’s okay.
peachani's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation, Slavery, and Racism
lindsayb's review against another edition
4.0
OMG I've only just read the introduction and the first couple paragraphs of the first chapter but I'm already in lurv!
*******************
This was a great book. I'd been a fan of Nnedi Okorafor, Octavia Butler, George Clinton/Parliament, and Sun Ra for some time now, and have been meaning to check out a few other authors in the Afrofuturism and Afrosurrealism vein, but I never really made a connection insofar as a movement or genre. Ytasha Womack is engaging and balances well her personal experiences with an expository look into the movers and shakers of the AF scene. I now have a laundry list of artists, films, and filmmakers to check out. I especially loved the final chapters where Womack connects AF to community outreach, which is something I would LOVE to get involved in.
The only drawbacks to this book:
(1) (echoing another reviewer here) This book would have done well to include a recommended bibliography/discography, etc. As it stands now, just be prepared to take notes! You're going to want to explore.
(2) There were just a couple cringe-worthy incorrect historical notes (one I couldn't get over was that Napoleon had destroyed the library in Alexandria--I believe part of it caught fire with Julius Caesar's Civil War and was later subject to continued destruction by regional bigwigs).
(3) I tired a little with some of the digressions that were along the lines of "so these people aren't exactly AFs, but they did this one thing that could be included in the genre." This wasn't bad by any means, and it generally just illustrated Womack's point that African Americans have a rightful stake in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Surrealist communities, but it did strike me as a little bit of a stretch.
Regardless of these minor setbacks, this is such a terrific primer. I hope lots of people read it and are inspired to look more into the AF genre. I know I'll be thinking and talking about it for a long time.
*******************
This was a great book. I'd been a fan of Nnedi Okorafor, Octavia Butler, George Clinton/Parliament, and Sun Ra for some time now, and have been meaning to check out a few other authors in the Afrofuturism and Afrosurrealism vein, but I never really made a connection insofar as a movement or genre. Ytasha Womack is engaging and balances well her personal experiences with an expository look into the movers and shakers of the AF scene. I now have a laundry list of artists, films, and filmmakers to check out. I especially loved the final chapters where Womack connects AF to community outreach, which is something I would LOVE to get involved in.
The only drawbacks to this book:
(1) (echoing another reviewer here) This book would have done well to include a recommended bibliography/discography, etc. As it stands now, just be prepared to take notes! You're going to want to explore.
(2) There were just a couple cringe-worthy incorrect historical notes (one I couldn't get over was that Napoleon had destroyed the library in Alexandria--I believe part of it caught fire with Julius Caesar's Civil War and was later subject to continued destruction by regional bigwigs).
(3) I tired a little with some of the digressions that were along the lines of "so these people aren't exactly AFs, but they did this one thing that could be included in the genre." This wasn't bad by any means, and it generally just illustrated Womack's point that African Americans have a rightful stake in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Surrealist communities, but it did strike me as a little bit of a stretch.
Regardless of these minor setbacks, this is such a terrific primer. I hope lots of people read it and are inspired to look more into the AF genre. I know I'll be thinking and talking about it for a long time.
drecords's review against another edition
3.0
Solid primer for Afrofuturism. Can get a bit repetitive at times and give a bit too many summaries of other texts. Kinda skimmed a bit. Learned a new term: “Afro-surrealism”. This is a perfect way for me to frame my teaching of Beloved.
ebonyutley's review against another edition
3.0
The book is definitely a primer, but it is chock full of resources for the uninitiated.
bookishgoblin's review against another edition
5.0
This was absolutely amazing, honestly everyone should read this book. It combines history, art, music, literature, everything to dissect one of the most important art movements of our time. More people need to know about afrofuturism!
kenzie176824's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
gloomyboygirl's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 rounded up
It was fine but has already become fairly dated. Felt like it implied a lot that I need spelled out explicitly to be sure I understood.
It was fine but has already become fairly dated. Felt like it implied a lot that I need spelled out explicitly to be sure I understood.