Use this post to add a comment that includes at least two topic ideas that you are interested in pursuing for the remainder of the semester to research and create a manifesto with media action/situation that can transform our thinking around this topic.
I always appreciate websites that provide resources and information for free. In a society that promotes exclusivity and status based on money, knowledge is often kept far away from those who can’t afford to go to college. Sites like witness, wikipedia, and internet archive combat this by making these resources accessible, at least to those who can get on a computer or phone with wifi. It is very hard to learn how to use a camera, produce videos, and safely document events without someone guiding you. It becomes even more dangerous to you and the people you are filming if it is a recording of a human rights violation or demonstration. As students who have the ability to attend Pitzer, we are lucky to learn how to navigate this from experienced professors. But most people, including those at less progressive schools, will not learn how to navigate media through a revolutionary lens. What I like about Witness is that it not only has all of the basics of how to produce video, what equipment to bring, and how to archive it, but also, has guides on how to apply these skills to protect and advocate for vulnerable people and communities. For my links, I chose two graphics on collecting and posting sensitive videos. I initially chose these because the subject correlated to our media campaign in which we planned on collecting and posting clips of female environmental activists. I also liked that the layout was easy to follow and reminiscent of a seventeen magazine quiz, which would probably draw attention from many people, especially young people. The first link discussed posting and archiving on a more general scale while the second centered on posting police violence. I think this is relevant to the clips that are being shared showing the violence in Palestine. It is important to think about whether posting graphic content is normalizing or exposing that violence for users.
https://library.witness.org/product/should-i-collect-and-archive-these-videos/
There are a couple of questions from are class discussion that I have been thinking of, the first being whether media divides us or brings us together. This is something that I often consider as someone who wants to create impact utilizing media. I’ve come to the conclusion that like many things, media is neither “good” or “bad”, but it is powerful and it is important for us to acknowledge the ways it can impact us. On one hand, I think media has connected us by allowing us to share ideas, talk to people and see images and video from different parts of the world, and stay in touch with loved ones. On the other hand, I find media to be quite isolating at times. I go out and see people less because I text or facetime them, and sometimes I stay inside scrolling through instagram and tiktok for hours. I also think that because of the anonymity of the internet, people can turn into their worst selves. Dialogue is not usually productive online because people say whatever they want hiding behind their screens. At the same, this also exposes what people are truly thinking and feeling. In our class discussion we also discussed whether or not corporations have the responsibility to sacrifice potential profits for the sake of the environment. My immediate answer was absolutely yes. In fact, I believe corporations shouldn’t be making any sort of profits while there are people without homes and food. If anything, these corporations shouldn’t even exist. Realistically, I know they will continue to exploit both people and the planet, and thats extremely frustrating to me. While individuals who care try to cut plastic, compost, eat plant based diets, these corporations make billions to destroy what little we have left. Its easy to have a pessimistic mindset, or even a feeling of apathy while truly thinking about this, so I appreciate when we try to talk about what to do together.
Neptune Frost is one of the most unique pieces of media that I have seen. Firstly, I think we need more media that discusses not only technology itself, but how it is made and where the materials come from. Oftentimes we don’t think about the labor and environmental exploitation that goes into the production of our electronics. Because of this film, I think about coltan and the environmental impact I am making every time I pick up my Iphone, rather than just the psychological impact I face when using social media and the internet. This is especially relevant considering the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has gained some more attention in conjunction with the genocide in Palestine. Neptune Frost made me think of a new exhibit at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum called “cellphone: unseen connections” that examines the impacts of mining “conflict minerals”, electronic waste, and the environmental impacts caused by cellphone usage. It is interesting to see how people are just starting to think about these things despite the fact that cellphones have been around for awhile now. A new technology comes out and all people think about is whether it is useful or not. Another thing I enjoyed about this film was the centering of African people in their liberation and control over technology. Usually, african people and societies are portrayed as “uncivilized” or in need of “saving” from more “developed” countries.
“Neptune Frost” is one of the most magical movies I have encountered. Its entire music, visuals, and underlying content are very interesting.
From a musical perspective, it combines a strong Afrofuturist influence with local culture. Its rhythm and control of pace are very captivating. For me, the fast-paced music constantly draws my attention, fueling my desire to keep watching. This is especially true in scenes of escape or dance. The slower tempos, on the other hand, allow me to ponder and appreciate the beauty of the film’s visuals. When people are singing or exploring this world, the slower pace helps me focus on the plot.
Visually, I think the movie has deeply researched makeup and overall cinematic art. It’s evident that the makeup strongly reflects local cultural characteristics, combined with some cyberpunk elements. I found the use of color particularly intriguing. Color plays a significant role in this film. For instance, the prominence of the miners’ colors at the beginning, and when the protagonist (forgive me for forgetting the name) runs to another place dressed in black and white while she is in red. Such stark color contrasts are fascinating. Also, why are the police all in pink? It’s worth pondering. As for what the colors represent, I don’t have an answer, but to me, it’s very interesting.
The content it aims to convey also greatly attracts me. It’s very hard to actually follow exactly what is going on. But what I can discern are themes like Sexual identity, Western hegemony, Whether technology is a substitute for action, Colonialism, and Runaway consumerism. Since it reflects so much, I will definitely watch this movie again. It feels like every detail is worth savoring.
Neptune Frost was one of the most unique and visually engaging films I have ever seen. I was constantly looking at the costumes, which like the music and visuals, told as much of a story as the dialogue. Often when watching something I am drawn to pay attention to dialogue because I am accustomed to that being the driving force of the plot but in this case I felt that every element, visual and sonic, was contributing equally to my understanding of the plot. It took me a while to get used to this and as a result I only caught onto the plot about halfway through the movie.
In Thali’s discussion questions he mentioned the use of symbols as described in the reading. I think Neptune Frost was full of symbols that existed on the characters clothing or appeared as motifs. Repurposed tech, like the jean jacket with attached keyboards or the copper wiring that was woven through garments and hair, I thought helped to characterize the people in the new settlement as dedicated to technology in a very personal way. Their love of tech was linked to their personal expression through clothing and hair.
The only other afrofuturist media I have interacted with consistently is Janelle Monáe’s science fiction universe including a pop album, videos, and short stories, Dirty Computer. The aesthetic is very similar to Neptune Frost with many shared motifs such as neon light, repurposed retro tech, and queer representation naturally baked into the storylines. I especially appreciated this last element. Seeing queer storylines that are not tokenized and are crucial to the plot is always heartening.
Watching Neptune Frost, I had to take some time to digest and analyze the complex topics that were discussed throughout the film. It definitely pushed me to identify the meanings behind every little detail. I really like the exploration of technology in the context of colonialism and oppressing authority. This is a very relevant topic in our world right now because of the unfair practices of coltan mining in the Congo. This film really makes me think about how every product we use is inherently supporting unfair labor.
Exploring these atrocities through an Afrofurutistic almost psychedelic film style really makes the project stand out. The eye-catching blue and purple colors and the colorful costumes create a world that you can enter while watching. All of these elements intermixing with queerness and poetic dialogue create a totally futuristic world. I think the queer element of this film was the most difficult motif for me to follow while watching the film and my understanding came from reading about it after.
The miners are ultimately killed by the same technology that they work to make. Ultimately, they are unwilling participants in their own demise which I find very true with much of the world, including my own actions. At the end of the day, no matter how hard a community is working together, the authority still has the power to kill and destroy within the structures we have set up currently.
The question Apollo posed in class on Monday: “Can you think of any examples of hegemony responding to cultural change?” and our discussion about it left me thinking about the dynamics and interpretations of hegemony. In class, Sam answered “gay marriage,” and although I do that that is an advancement in our culture, I don’t think hegemony has responded to that change. The way that I perceive hegemony and how it’s defined in the book is as, “common sense.” To further expand, hegemony is; the status quo, societies expectations of our identities and how we express ourselves in our everyday lives, it’s what is viewed and considered “normal.” To my understanding, I don’t interpret hegemony as laws or outright rules, but rather an unspoken code of conduct and script we all feel inclined to follow to “fit in.” Hegemony seems concrete, but in reality it is rather fragile and requires renewal and modification through the assertion & reassertion of power. The book also states that hegemony is, “flexible, and therefore can respond to cultural change.” However, my personal belief is that, in the United States at least, it is extremely difficult to completely change hegemonic ideologies and rewrite the status quo. I do agree with Sam that gay marriage is a cultural change that goes against hegemonic views on relationships and love in our society, nevertheless, heterosexual relationships are still and will always be viewed as “normal” or the “default.” Just the simple fact that there is an expectation for queer people to “come out” is absurd and further sustains the harmful narrative that homosexuality is viewed as other. Until queer people are treated and perceived with the same normalization and privilege that heterosexual people carry, then hegemony will reign superior; despite cultural and legal advances. (But maybe that’s just my take 😄)
Antonio Lopez’s perspective on the media ecosystem resonates strongly with the current wave of media activism that seeks to redefine the relationship between media, society, and the environment. In an era marked by heightened awareness of environmental challenges and social justice issues, media activists are increasingly pushing for a paradigm shift in the way information is produced, consumed, and disseminated. I am inspired by Lopez’s call for “organic media practitioners,” contemporary media activists are advocating for a more conscientious and sustainable approach to media engagement.
Media activists today are part of different movements. Some, like environmental activists, want the media to talk more about climate change. Others, like those focused on social justice, want fair and inclusive representation in media. A good example of this is the movie Neptune Frost. It uses an innovative perspective and include songs to emphasizes on the oral traditions and cultural songs in African history. Media should be ethical and responsible and one can see the qualities in this movie. Lopez also talks about collaboration. Media should be connected with the society and the activism around them. In essence, Lopez’s vision provides a theoretical foundation for the practical goals of contemporary media activism, offering a holistic approach that addresses not only the content of media but also its environmental and cultural implications.
The reading and our project are related!!
My group was hashing this out today, of if we wanted our idea, whatever it was, to be mediated through technology or not. For a project about “getting connected with your surroundings” the idea of doing it through the phone felt like an oxymoron. Ultimately the idea of “how do we actually get this in users hands” (consumer base and marketing) won out. If we’re already submerged in a system that keeps us at a distance, how do we work within that framework to get back up to the surface?
Fiona and Zola got a little mad at me when I asked, “Okay, so how do we monetize this?” They said that it shouldn’t be. They are right. However, this was the framework I was operating under when I asked that. Nothing is free. Our project would in theory have employees- content creators and moderators. Those people need to be paid.
The words “you are the product” are really scary, and I was thinking of ways to monetize data without being evil. Obviously you want the app to be free to users, especially for a learning resource. I talked about the possibility of selling pictures (with their locations) that users take to universities/research institutions doing work on native plants/mapping (think the Claremont Sound Map).
We also talked about community resources for teachers and libraries, maybe that can be behind a paywall, although I’m sure my group members would reject. Sorry, capitalism is like cigarettes. Widespread, normalized, and a bitch to quit.
I wanted to reflect on the afrofuturist film Neptune Frost because of it’s uniqueness in the scope of the Canon. I have rarely found a film that combines so many relevant factors of nascent social activism as Neptune Frost.
Personally, I enjoyed the gender bending character development which tilts the whole story into a question of what we accept without realizing. In referring to the “Authority” so ambiguously, the cultural and societal structures make the viewer question their role in the metaphorical oppression of these people.
I am reminded of the exploitation of miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who work in nearly slave like conditions to mine of Lithium ore which powers our phones, computers, and cars. Through this film, we are shown a new perspective; one of afrofuturism and emotion, bringing real life consequences of technological growth into a futuristic story. I am also reminded of the concept of Steampunk versus Solarpunk: two rivaling depictions of a pessimistic and optimistic future. Steampunk depicts a world overrun with technology and human effect. Steampunk has been around since the birth of steam wielding combustion engines which captured the imagination of thinkers and artists alike. But despite the innovation filled future, this media influenced the world into thinking that we were destined to reach an overpopulated and technologically overrun society. Contrastingly, Solarpunk is an attempt to rewire our thinking into imagining a beautifully sustainable future powered by the natural world instead of human invention. Neptune Frost reminds me of Solarpunk because of it’s critique of human innovative trajectory. I really enjoyed this film and hope to see many more like it in the future.
Medialectic 