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.

This is the slightly cleaned-up audio of our most recent conversation with Fred Moten. This was recorded on October 25th. Given the evolution of this struggle and the increasingly genocidal character as well as the ongoing resistance, our comments if we were to hold this discussion today on November 11th would undoubtedly be different.  Nonetheless I think a lot of what we cover remains important and we wanted to try to create an audio version of this conversation which held true to the character of the original which we will link in the show notes, but also share it with our broader audience, much of whom prefer the audio format. The audio quality of this version is hopefully also slightly better than the original YouTube version. I would note that we now have fourteen of these livestreams up on our Youtube channel which everyone can check out. All of them are related to this current struggle for Palestinian liberation as well as the struggle against the genocidal settler violence we see unleashed on Gaza with full support material, ideological, military of the US as a settler empire in particular and the institutions and governments so-called Western World writ large.  I want to acknowledge and shout-out everyone who is taking action and trying to deepen and expand their own anticolonial practices in these times until Palestine is free, until we all are free. Once again thank you to Fred Moten for this conversation If you like our work of course you can as always support our work on patreon or by becoming a member of our YouTube channel. Thank you for listening and I hope you are finding new comrades in the streets every day. Fred Moten's conversation with Robin DG Kelley, Aqua Cooper & Rinaldo Walcott that is mentioned in the episode Previous episodes with Fred Moten & Stefano Harney, and his conversation with Hanif Abdurraqib that we've hosted.  

Fred Moten, a renowned poet and scholar, joins interdisciplinary artist Ronaldo V. Wilson for a deep dive into the nuances of identity and artistic expression. They discuss the emotional power of poetry readings and the transformative effects of personal experiences in shaping creativity. The conversation touches on the complexity of nostalgia, family ties, and cultural memory, particularly within the context of black music and its profound emotional landscape. Listeners are invited to reflect on how art navigates the intricate intersections of history and personal identity.

Poet and cultural critic Fred Moten and writer/scholar Ronaldo V. Wilson discuss their live performance readings at the Poetry Project, exploring the electrifying atmosphere and transformative power of poetry performances. They navigate audience expectations, reflect on performance and identity, and discuss the constraints of books in creative processes. The conversation delves into the interconnectedness of readiness, violence, and creativity in interactions.

Fred Moten, a notable scholar in Black studies and critical theory, joins Stefano Harney, a theorist in social thought, for an engaging dialogue. They explore homelessness and belonging, weaving in personal stories about community and nostalgia. The duo discusses the politics of 'the surround', emphasizing the protection of marginalized spaces. Delving into Indigenous and Afro-pessimist ideas, they challenge traditional notions of sovereignty and critique mainstream activism. Their reflections advocate for a more profound connection to land, community, and liberation.