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• 1 2024-07-23T12:59:46-07:00 AfroSurrealism by Devyn Devitt 3 plain 2024-10-07T19:08:04-07:00
  This project explores the use of Afro Surrealism in Black television and film. Afro Surrealism has emerged as a powerful artistic framework for Black filmmakers and television creators to infuse their works with layers of social commentary. It is rooted in the African diasporic experience and influenced by surreal imagery, magical realism, and nonlinear narratives – and reveals a unique lens through which Black viewers perceive the world. By leveraging Afro Surrealism elements of the fantastical and uncanny – like symbolic imagery, dreamlike sequences, and fantasy storytelling – Black artists subvert the dominant cultural narratives and challenge conventional portrayals of Blackness – offering alternative perspectives on issues like race, identity, and power dynamics. This approach allows Black artists to reclaim their narrative and contributes to a more inclusive and authentic representation. But it runs the risk of perpetuating negative stereotypes and exoticizing Blackness. Through ethnography, interviews, and archival footage, this video essay explores how Afro Surrealism is used by Black artists and examines its (harmful or helpful) impact on minority representation. It includes the author’s in-depth interview with a journalist who has written on the topic.