Afrofuturism's Transcultural Trajectories: Resistant Imaginaries Between Margins and Mainstreams

The future is a contested terrain, and Afrofuturism is an increasingly noticeable field in these debates and manifestations. It oscillates between narratives of empowerment and tech-wise superheroes and dystopian agendas, raising questions about earlier futurist accounts and historical Black visions of the future. This volume contextualizes Afrofuturisms diverse approaches in the past and present through investigations into overlapping horizons with other intellectual and artistic movements and explorations of Afrofuturist approaches in the 21st century across media cultures and in a transcultural perspective.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The future is a dynamic and contentious landscape, which has garnered significant attention in recent years. The Afrofuturist imaginary has emerged as a prominent field within these discussions, urging the creation of a future vision through an artistic, scientific, and technological lens that embraces African and Black perspectives. While the term "Afrofuturism" may not be new, it has undergone broadening and evolution, with recent engagements oscillating between narratives of empowerment and technologically advanced superheroes on the one hand, and dystopian agendas on the other. These engagements raise questions about earlier futurist accounts and historical Black visions of the future that predate the emergence of the term "Afrofuturism."

This volume seeks to contextualize Afrofuturisms diverse approaches in the past and present by exploring overlapping horizons with other intellectual and artistic movements such as Pan-Africanism, debates about Civil Rights, decolonial debates, and transcultural modernisms. Furthermore, it examines Afrofuturist approaches in the 21st century across media cultures and in a transcultural perspective.

Originally published as a special issue of the journal "Critical Studies in Media Communication," this book offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Afrofuturism and its significance in shaping our understanding of the future.

Weight: 403g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032414980