Friday, February 4, 2011

The Miseducation of Afrocentric Hair Video!

So I just created this video called "The Miseducation of Afrocentric Hair". I was moved to create this piece for a number of reasons: First,  I've been extremely inspired by the multiplicity of resources made available to create content on the web. Second, I've been looking for simple ways to communicate my present research ( the rhetoric of Afrocentric hair in social and new media) in a interactive way, and third, it is the cheapest way to make a film!

Believe it or not, the third reason is what won me over. I've made a total of 5 films in my career and so far this one took the least time, money, and effort! I can't say that the effort isn't just as effective, and I certainly put a lot of thought into it. I truly believe that xtranormal.com could be a great screenwriting tool (saves time on drawing your own storyboards and plus you get to hear your thoughts out loud). Sure, you could pay $200+ on screenwriting software, but the process here is much more intuitive.  I've seen quite a few people make some great films using xtranormal.com, most of the films that I've seen discuss complex career choices and even the challenges within African American relationships. It seems like a great platform to put theories into practice, and receive direct dialogue from your ideas.

Nevertheless, the debate on Afrocentric hairstyles and its acceptance within the African American community has frequently been on my mind, as I'm asked almost daily about my natural hair regimen. While I wrote a paper last semester on the rhetoric of Afrocentric hair, I'm now sure that my own thoughts were cloudy until a few weeks ago. For the past few weeks I've been approached by several younger (Hey, I'm still in my 20s ! LOL) African American women at my school (TWU)  who have complimented me about how I style my hair.  It's not that I did not believe it myself, however, I think that it's very telling to receive such a resounding response on a college campus (very different from the professional, corporate working world), which in my past college experiences were not always the case.
These responses have made me think even deeper about my research, and it seems that things are changing. Even when stopping at my favorite cafe (La Madeline's) I was approached by a young lady behind the counter. We had an extensive 15 minute conversation about natural hair care products, specifically Kinky Curly, and why it's only sold at Whole Foods! I mean truly, a change is definitely happening, and it seems very real.

So I'm sure your wondering what any of this has to do with art-making? Well, that's what the video is for! Nevertheless, I'm happy to say that these experiences and ideas are the beginning of artistic theorizing in the making.