DJ Spooky as Sun Ra

DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation is an act of Afrofuturism. DJ Spooky utilizes technologies in a new way to create a changed perspective of history and therefore the future. Compared to Space is the Place, DJ Spooky is the Sun Ra of remixing, creating a myth of history by changing Birth of a Nation into a reflection of racism rather than propaganda supporting the Klu Klux Klan. He recontextualizes scenes from the original film and reframes the message that is displayed on the screen. Not only is the final product a reconstruction itself but the performance takes the audience to a new place. Similarly to Sun Ra, DJ Spooky offers an altar perspective and destination to a new history. Additionally, the music reflects a dystopian futuristic ambiance that reminds the viewer to question this history's integrity. The music sounds futuristic and scary, which is similar to Sun Ra’s use of music throughout Space is the Place. The film was known for its experimental jazz, new techno sounds, and telekinetic messaging. The use of music in Rebirth of a Nation similarly teleports the viewer into a history but differentiates from Sun Ra by noting that the history that does exist, must be remembered in order to create a new history. Additionally, science fiction connects these two pieces of Afrofuturism. While Space is the Place utilizes Science fiction in order to reimagine a new idea, Rebirth of a Nation emphasizes the disturbances that have happened in the past which reminds the viewer that real life can be scarier than science fiction novels.