Spectators and Witnesses | Legacy Russell & Fred Moten
May 2, 2024
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Legacy Russell and Fred Moten discuss the relationship between blackness and modern visual culture. They explore the impact of historical representation of blackness in film on contemporary media and the significance of Black culture, music, and historical archives. The conversation delves into critical fabulation, self-authorship, and the complexities of portraying Blackness in digital culture. They also touch on the dichotomy of witness and spectator, the intersection of digital and real-life experiences, and the role of resistance and refusal in cultural creation.
The struggle over black representation in early mass media influences future cultural depictions.
Critical fabulation challenges imposed norms on black communities, reshaping notions of representation and autonomy.
Exploration of black expression in digital spaces reveals the intersection of global black struggles with evolving political climates.
Deep dives
Implications of Early Film Representations
Early films like Lime Kiln Field Day and Birth of a Nation reflect contrasting portrayals of blackness. While Lime Kiln Field Day featured a historic kiss between black leads, it was overshadowed by Birth of a Nation, a highly influential but racially biased film. The discussion highlights the struggle over black representation at the cusp of mass media, shaping future cultural depictions.
Critical Fabulation and Blackness
The concept of critical fabulation is central to reimagining black history and individuality. This form of thinking challenges norms like freedom and individuation imposed on black communities. Authors mention figures like Karen Barad and Immanuel Kant, shaping a critical dialogue on how blackness and the meme interact, allowing for a nuanced perspective on representation and autonomy.
Virality, Black Spaces, and Digital Culture
The transmission of blackness within digital spaces explores platforms like Vine and TikTok as sites of black expression and community. The discussion delves into how current political climates impact digital autonomy and global black struggles. It raises questions about agency, representation, and the intersection of American and global black narratives in the evolving digital landscape.
The Role of Music in Social Organization
Fred Moten discusses how music, particularly the views of Cecil Taylor, sheds light on the modalities of organization in society. By paying close attention to these modalities, it becomes apparent that conventional ways of thinking are limiting and hinder social capacities. Moten challenges the idea of detachment in understanding social organization, suggesting that involvement is vital for a deeper comprehension. He highlights the importance of transmission, viewing blackness not as something transmitted, but as transmission itself, emphasizing the sharing and diversity of differences.
Blackness as Virality and Transformation
Legacy Russell delves into the concept of blackness as inherently viral, designed to travel, survive, remix, and transform spaces. She connects the idea of black culture's virality to the middle passage, where black data was carried, emphasizing the transmission of blackness and its impact on technology and innovation. Russell critiques the commodification of black death and violence, distinguishing between how blackness has been economized and the resilient reality of black life beyond exploitation. She calls for a shift in discussing digital space, highlighting the realness and urgency of black experiences and the need to redefine media studies to accurately portray the complexities of black life.
This week on The Verso Podcast we’re taking a deep dive into the relationship between blackness and modern visual culture in the digital age. Our host, Eleanor Penny, will be joined by Legacy Russell and Fred Moten to delve into complicated relationship between philosophy, music, virality, and critical fabulation - in order to elucidate the fundamental way in which the history of modernity is inextricably bound up with images of blackness.
You can find Legacy's new book "Black Meme: A History of the Images that Make Us" here tinyurl.com/yckcuhd2
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