The Moonlight Effect

Week 9:

The 1984 film "Brother from Another Planet" is a classic example of Afrofuturism in cinema, exploring themes of identity, displacement, and connection to otherness. The film tells the story of a mute, black alien who crash-lands in New York City and navigates the complexities of human relationships while trying to evade capture. Similarly, the 2016 film "Moonlight" also explores themes of alienation and connection, focusing on the life of a young black man growing up in Miami and struggling to find his place in the world. Despite the differences in setting and genre, both films share a common thread in their portrayal of blackness as a complex and multifaceted identity that exists outside of traditional societal norms.

Moonlight, directed by Barry Jenkins, is a powerful and poignant film that tells the story of a young black man named Chiron who is struggling to find his place in the world. The film is a masterful exploration of alienation and disconnection, and it is a powerful representation of the ways in which systemic oppression and societal expectations can shape the experiences of marginalized individuals.

At its core, Moonlight is a coming-of-age story that follows Chiron through three distinct stages of his life: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Throughout the film, we see Chiron grappling with a sense of alienation and disconnection, both from himself and from those around him. He is bullied at school, mistreated by his drug-addicted mother, and struggles to come to terms with his own sexuality. Chiron is a character who is constantly on the margins of society, and his experiences reflect the experiences of many people who are excluded or oppressed in various ways. The film also explores themes of masculinity, race, and sexuality, highlighting the ways in which these intersecting identities can compound the experiences of alienation and disconnection. The film's themes of alienation and disconnection are deeply connected to the Afrofuturist movement. Moonlight speaks to the Afrofuturist concern with identity and representation, and highlights the ways in which black individuals can be excluded and marginalized in a society that does not value their experiences.