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Paul Klee . Angelus Novus , 1920, Oil and Watercolor on Paper 31.8 X

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Paul Klee . Angelus Novus , 1920, Oil and Watercolor on Paper 31.8 X PAUL KLEE. ANGELUS NOVUS , 1920, OIL AND WATERCO LO R ON PAPER , 31.8 X 24.2CM . ISRAEL MUSEUM , JERUSALEM (COURTESY OF CR E ATIVE COMMONS). What is the nature of history in John There are two important aspects to stay—presumably in the present painting, Akomfrah considers the Mothership Connection. Following Akomfrah’s 1995 documentary, The to this thesis that are relevant to (or perhaps even return to the story of the historical figure and this clue, the Data Thief, “[Surfs] Last Angel of History? One way to understanding the concept of history past)—to help mend the catastrophe blues legend, Robert Johnson. In across the internet of black culture, Akomfrah’s answer this question is to begin with in Akomfrah’s film: the location of before his feet. However, historical the very beginning of the film, the breaking into the vaults, breaking into the title. The Last Angel of History the storm and the angel’s desire materialism’s sense of history is narrator recites the famous story the rooms, and stealing fragments, Angel of is surely a reference to Walter to stay. Benjamin explains that oriented towards the future. That is of how Johnson learned to play the fragments from cyber-culture, Benjamin’s famous meditation on the storm’s origin is Paradise. In to say, each distinct historical event blues: “Robert Johnson sold his techno-culture, narrative-culture.”8 Paul Klee’s 1920 painting, Angelus Abrahamic religious traditions, builds on another toward a logical soul to the devil at the crossroads History Novus, in his own “Theses on the Paradise is the subject of various end based on material progress. in the Deep South. He sold his Armed with a special set of Philosophy of History.” In the ninth interpretations. Paradise can refer Critical of this position, Benjamin soul and in return he was given sunglasses and a black box, this thesis of this text, Benjamin does to the mythic Garden of Eden (from describes the past in this painting the secret of a black technology, character is a time-traveler. The a close reading of Klee’s painting which humans fell from grace), the as a pile of debris that continues a black secret technology that we documentary follows the Data Thief as he discovers different fragments in order to make a critique of future state of the universe that to grow skyward.5 Unable to fight know to be now as the blues.”6 Karl Marx’s historical materialism. will eventually be restored, the the storm, the angel is forced in of black cultural productions Clinton Fluker Benjamin discerns that the image afterlife (heaven), or a combination a temporal direction against his Using this story as inspiration, throughout history in the form Akomfrah creates another character of video footage, pictures, and depicts an angel looking toward of the three.3 Usually depicted as a will for the sake of progress. a catastrophic past: “Where we peaceful place, Benjamin portrays in Johnson’s image he calls the Data interviews with artists and critics. perceive a chain of events, he sees Paradise as the source of a violent Thief. Two hundred years into the Several of these interviewees include one single catastrophe which keeps storm that ferociously propels the II future, the Data Thief is told a story: Juan Atkins, John Corbett, Derrick piling wreckage upon wreckage and angel of history’s wings toward “If you can find the crossroads…you’ll May, Ishmael Reed, Greg Tate, DJ find fragments, techno-fossils, and Spooky, Kodwo Eshun, Samuel hurls it in front of his feet.”1 The the future: “a storm is blowing in In the narrative of The Last Angel angel of history desires to stay and Paradise; it has got caught in his of History, Akomfrah deals head on if you can put those elements, those Delany, Octavia Butler, and George help mend this catastrophe, but his wings with such violence that the with the notion of history by using fragments together, you’ll find the Clinton. Eventually, The Mothership code. Crack that code, and you’ll Connection leads the Data Thief wings are caught in a storm that angel can no longer close them.”4 a similar mechanism employed propels him toward the future: “This by Benjamin in “Theses.” Rather have the keys to your future.”7 Before to twentieth-century Africa. The angel of history’s back is turned venturing on his journey to find the storm is what we call progress.”2 than focusing on a character in a toward the future because he wants crossroads, he is given a clue: The According to the narrator, when the Data Thief reaches Africa, he 46 liquid blackness : volume one, issue four liquid blackness : volume one, issue four 47 Akomfrah’s Angel Akomfrah’s Angel becomes the last angel of history. History, Clinton states: “On [this] attempts to situate blackness Up),” acting as an intergalactic DJ, Similar to Benjamin’s angel, record, I had to find another place in odd places, Parliament also Lollipop Man informs the citizens Akomfrah’s angel is trapped. Though that we hadn’t perceived black became known for their jarring of Earth that they are listening to a the Data Thief wants to return to his people to be, and that was on a live performances and eclectic broadcast from the Mothership on a own time in the future, his search spaceship. So, I pictured him in there outfits. In one interview for The frequency he calls W-E-F-U-N-K: for Johnson’s crossroads has led leaning like it was a Cadillac. You Last Angel of History, techno him back in time to 20th century know, slidin’ through space, chillin’... artist Derrick May states: Welcome to station WEFUNK, better known as We-Funk Africa where he will forever be stuck coming from the planet Sirius.”10 I went to go see a concert when I was Or deeper still, the Mothership Connection. in time and space.9 The reason the Data Thief is trapped in this period In addition to the imagery provided a little kid… I’ll never forget this man Home of the extraterrestrial brothers, is best understood through an on the album cover, the music coming out of the top of the roof on a Dealers of funky music. analysis of how Akomfrah uses both situates blackness in outer space cable, dressed in a diaper and big white P.Funk, uncut funk, The Bomb.12 through the use of electronic voice platform boots, playing a guitar and called The Mothership Connection and the Integral to interpreting Mothership distortions and musical instruments himself Starchild. And then this other crossroads throughout the narrative. Connection is Clinton’s notion of such as Bootsy Collins’ famous dude comes out of a so-called spaceship Funk. According to Kodwo Eshun, an star-shaped electric guitar. In other that lands out of the center of the stage.11 acclaimed music and Afrofuturism III The album tells the story of the critic, Funk is a healing substance. In arrival of Starchild, an alien from his book, More Brilliant than the Sun: Released in 1975, Mothership another planet, who has arrived in Adventures in Sonic Fiction, Eshun Connection is Parliament’s 4th studio a Mothership (spaceship) to bring notes that Parliament’s very first album. The album cover features a (LEFT) FIGURE 1: the people of Earth the Funk. This album was called Osmium, the world’s photo of Parliament’s bandleader, The Data Thief storyline is narrated by several most pungent metal: “Funkadelia… George Clinton, sitting in a spaceship THE LAST ANGEL OF HISTORY different characters including the invades through the nostrils and seeps near an unidentified planet. When (DIRECTED BY JOHN AKOMFRAH , 1995, Lollipop Man. On the album’s first through the nerves, setting inhalation asked about this album cover in an BLACK AUDIO FILM COLLECTIVE), FRAME GRAB . track, “P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked at war with the body. You breathe in interview from The Last Angel of 48 liquid blackness : volume one, issue four liquid blackness : volume one, issue four 49 Akomfrah’s Angel Akomfrah’s Angel the purification of the universe.”13 this fact by hitting them with pure, which Funk is dispersed to the search for the crossroads leads Lollipop Man states “P-Funk”: unadulterated Funk. Luckily, Funk is citizens of Earth, and Funk itself is to Africa while aboard Clinton’s also something that is easy to obtain. the ancient source of good vibes and Mothership. However, it is still a If you got faults, defects or shortcomings, All a person needs to do is listen Earth’s life force, The Mothership quandary as to why Akomfrah’s You know, like arthritis, rheumatism to the Funky music performed by Connection represents a return to angel gets stuck there. or migraines, Starchild and his crew: “Put a glide in origins: “The Mothership Connection Whatever part of your body it is, your stride and a dip in your hip and is the link between Africa as a lost I want you to lay it on your radio, come on up to the Mothership.”16 continent in the past and Africa let the vibes flow through. IV as an Alien Future.”18 This logic is Funk not only moves, it Also in “Mothership Connection further supported by the name of In Blues, Ideology, and Afro-American can re-move, dig?14 (Star Child),” Starchild welcomes the album and the connection that is Literature: A Vernacular Theory, the people of Earth to “good times” forged between the people of Earth In addition to its healing properties, Houston Baker discusses the idea of on the Mothership.
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