Finding Fanon

Finding Fanon

Year: 
2015–17
Edition: 
2018

The Finding Fanon series (2015–17) by Larry Achiampong and David Blandy addresses histories of immigration, exploitation, race, and colonialism. The films are informed by the work of radical humanist Frantz Fanon (1925–61) on decolonization and the psychopathology of colonization. As movie characters, or avatars within the virtual environment of Grand Theft Auto 5, Achiampong and Blandy negotiate Fanon’s ideas. The artists question the promise of globalization and new technologies, recognizing its impact on their own heritages and relationships. The scripts of each part of Finding Fanon weave together personal backgrounds, pop culture elements, and postcolonial theory, connecting their past, present, and future. They thus form the framework of a collaborative and personal multi-layered exploration of race, identity, and globalization in the digital age.

share