GREENEVILLE – Ytasha Womack, a nationally respected author, filmmaker, dancer and independent scholar, will discuss the Afrofuturism movement during a public online presentation hosted by Tusculum University.
Ytasha Womack
Womack wrote “Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi & Fantasy Culture,” a 2013 book viewed as an authoritative source for anyone who discusses the subject. The book was a 2014 Locus Awards nonfiction finalist.
In the book, Womack defines Afrofuturism as “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. . . . Afrofuturism combines elements of science fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, Afrocentricity, and magical realism with non-Western beliefs. In some cases, it’s a total re-envisioning of the past and speculation about the future rife with cultural critiques.”
Womack will deliver her free lecture and respond to questions via the Zoom online platform from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. She is discussing the topic at the invitation of Kelsey Trom, an associate professor of English, who is teaching a course this summer on Afrofuturism.
A former writer-in-residence at Emerson College in Boston and a former artist-in-residence with Black Rock Senegal, helmed by Kehinde Wiley, Womack frequently lectures and serves as a keynote speaker on Afrofuturism, innovation and science fiction. “A Love Letter to the Ancestors from Chicago” is her 2017 Afrofuturism dance film, which was featured at multiple festivals, including the Black Harvest Film Fest in Chicago. She has also written several other books, published essays and worked on multiple films.
“I’m thrilled this accomplished professional will have an opportunity to share her insights into the engaging subject of Afrofuturism with my students and the community,” Trom said. “At the conclusion of her talk, the audience should be more aware of the influence of Afrofuturism on a wide variety of popular art, music, film and literature.”
Anyone interested in the lecture can use the URL https://bit.ly/37EBJrG. The meeting ID is 934 1565 7767, and the password is 935313. No reservations are required.
For more information about the lecture, please email Trom at ktrom@tusculum.edu. To learn more about Womack, please visit https://www.ytashawomack.com/.