“Black to the Future” Syllabus
Every year, Level Ground residents curate their own syllabus to reflect the critical, creative, and imaginative foundations of their residency work. The (She.LL), by 2022 resident artist TOMMi, is a celebration of Black self-image, creative identity within the Black community, and discovering the power of the artist’s Black artistic lineage as a creative, a technologist, and a Black Queer Woman.
Curator’s Note:
Through the use of technology, the “Black to the Future: Afrofutrisum & Black Subjectivity” Syllabus evaluates the past and future to promote better conditions for the present generation of Black people. In developing my residency project, I’ve delved into optical illusions and explored how Afrofuturism extends beyond Sci-Fi. My syllabus is a visual representation of these stylistic inspirations. Through my syllabus, I hope to shed light on the diverse lived realities of Black people in order to build new truths outside the dominant cultural narrative. —TOMMi
1. Black Futures edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham (Book, 544 pages)
What does it mean to be Black and alive right now? Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham have brought together this collection of work--images, photos, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, tweets, poetry, and more--to tell the story of the radical, imaginative, provocative, and gorgeous world that Black creators are bringing forth today.
2. Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance by Moya Bailey (Book, 248 pages)
In Misogynoir Transformed, Bailey delves into her groundbreaking concept, highlighting Black women's digital resistance to anti-Black misogyny on YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr, and other platforms.
3. Museum of Illusions (Museum in Orlando, Florida)
4. The Wheel by SOHN (Song, 3:54)
“All this fuss over nothing
Reinventing the wheel
All this searching for something that's not real”
5. Evolved by B. Felipe (Painting)
6. Africobra : Messages to the People by Jeffreen Hayes (Book, 174 pages)
A major publication about the revolutionary art collective that defined a new Black aesthetic in late 1960s Chicago and whose influence today is stronger than ever.
7. Legendary (TV Show, HBO Max)
8. Organize Your Own Temporality by Rasheedah Phillips (Article)
Black Quantum Futurism (BQF) is exploring and developing modes and practices of spatiotemporal consciousness that would be more beneficial to marginalized peoples’ survival in a “high-tech” world currently dominated by oppressive linear time constructs.
9. Notable Black Artist Walk (Leimert Park in Los Angeles, Free)
Every last Sunday of the month, the Leimert Park Art Walk celebrates amazing African American music, art, and of course food!
10. The Last Bookstore (Bookstore in Los Angeles)
11. Afrofuturim Explained: Not just Black Sci-Fi (Video, 5:07)
12. Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer [Emotion Picture] (Narrative film accompanying an musical album, 48:57)