AS220 Youth centers artmaking in a social justice context, culminating annually in the AfroFuturist inspired Futureworlds showcase. Every year our young people unite to present a youth-led, year long multimedia project that blends elements of art, popular culture and visionary fiction to reimagine a more just and equitable world free from systems of oppression.
“FUTUREWORLDS is a multimedia mixtape. A living collage. A walking anthology. A breathing literary magazine. The purpose of Futureworlds is to give young people the space and resources to create highly visible work that transforms the way we think about art, community and justice. We use design thinking as a framework to develop projects that not only create social awareness but that also offer potential solutions and/or ways of being.” –Anjel Newmann, AS220 Youth Director
FUTUREWORLDS 5: Escape from JollyWorld tells the story of a drug addicted rapper Jay who finds himself emerged in JollyWorld; a hyper animated dimension where even the most common folk can reach other worldly potential. The rapper is signed to a record label that makes its profits by taking endorsements from Big Tobacco and Pharmaceutical companies. On his journey, he meets 2 elder musicians who help him understand the roots of his addiction and more importantly, those who are benefiting from it. As he learns more about his past and the institutions that have controlled it, JollyWorld begins to collapse. How will Jay confront his addiction? Will he make it out of JollyWorld alive?
The goal of Futureworlds 5 is to examine how and why communities of color have been disproportionately criminalized for addiction, a disease that is now gaining growing compassion and policy reform. At the same time, our aim is to educate young people about the dangers of abusing drugs, with a special focus on opiates and nicotine.
FUTUREWORLDS 5 is coming in August 2019! In the meantime, check out our progress:
- Visuals Blog: Envisioning Jolly Products
- Kick Butts Day @ RIDOH
- Futureworlds Featured in “Reclaiming Digital Futures”
- Music Blog: Winter Reflections
- Winter Showcase
FUTUREWORLDS 5 is supported by:
Featured photo by Allam Mella.