Angela N. Carroll DANM201 10/10/2006 Video Installation Proposal
Despite all the technological advancements of the last century, humankind has yet to invent a machine allowing him to physically travel through time. Though study of varying scholarly texts and narratives have attempted to provide some framework for how the peoples within the past have functioned, lack of diversity and depth within those texts have proved problematic. History, told from the perspective of the victor (conqueror), is constantly portrayed through a supremacists male European lens. The results of teaching/reinforcing such frameworks on a global level, have greatly influenced the way cultures within society view themselves and approach their daily lives. Senegalese scholar Cheikh Anta Diop suggests that there is a huge correlation between the perpetuation of racist ideals as holistic truths, and resulting psychological displacement in communities of color. Root Awakenings offers a different approach, allowing participants to see the world through African eyes, and experience history in new and exciting way, through historical narrative virtual reality reenactments.
Root Awakenings is a large circular interior space made of mahogany wood and metal. The initial entryway into the space is similar to that of a history museum, showing pictures of affluent Africans and noting important events. The walls around the interior are fitted with speakers to allow for surround sound effects. The speakers play varying tracks continuously looping sounds that are reminiscent of the Black experience, (i.e., the Black Church, political speeches, laughter, screams, blues, jazz, etc.). The stereo-walls also double as screens, which allow for the projection of relevant images, videos, and text. Throughout the space, cutting into the walls are small interactive stations called “Learning Trees”. The Learning Trees are equipped with flat screen monitors, desks, chairs, joysticks, and keyboards. These stations allow the user to play games teaching the varying legacies of African peoples. Each Learning Tree station operates with the same gaming software.
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