Visual- The Temple: Hair, Body and Face



 Shamari Rice

J. Harris

ENGL2016-44378

The Temple: Hair, Body and Face

Afrofuturism challenges traditional narratives and cultural aesthetic norms by creating

theoretical spaces where African Americans reclaim their identity culture, and bodies. It blends

science fiction, history, and African culture Among the many themes, the body politics of

Afrofuturism creates an interesting space that involves the resistance to Eurocentric beauty

standards that are imposed on African American women. Traditionally, the standards idolize

thinness deprecating women within both mainstream and African American communities. For

my visual art, I chose to draw an image of a plus-size Black woman with her body having

embracive curves, stretch marks, and a pudgy stomach. Her afro would not be of a natural color

like brown or black, more so of a shiny gray, but instead of color there would be glitter.

Therefore, I title this drawing “The Temple: Hair, Body, and Face”.

Hair: This afro serves as I feel a crown that symbolizes the everlasting potential of Black

womanhood and a recovery of hair as a cultural statement. The glitter conjures up a sense of the

supernatural that aligns with Afrofuturism’s futuristic and imaginative elements. The afro

saturates with symbolism linked to futuristic visions challenging stereotypes that exclude plus-

size women from the narrative of empowerment and beauty.

Body: Her curvaceous body embellishes patterns that are inspired by African art, harvesting the

disconnection between tradition and altering. The drawing of the plus-size woman celebrates

African diasporic with identities. This visual art aligns with Afrofuturism’s definition by re-

imagining her as a cosmic figure. Her frame emphasizes the cultural abundance of what the plus-

size woman can represent, power and assertiveness.

Face: As you can see in the visual art, the woman is presented with no face. The faceless woman

symbolizes the reclamation of identity. Her face is absent because, without it, there is a potential

reconstruction and redefinition of identity that is free from society. The visual art helps one use

their imagination and connect it to being a supernatural aspect in Afrofuturism.

My inspiration for visual art comes from artists such as Mickalene Thomas, Amy

Sherald, Deborah Roberts, and Faith Ringgold, who are all artists who create visuals to bring

plus-size African American women to the forefront. They often portray plus-size Black women

in powerful, glamorous, and empowering ways. Black women are often depicted through their

presence and complexity challenging traditional beauty standards. Therefore, my chosen visual

art focuses on body politics and how African American plus-size women are viewed as

supernatural defeating the traditional norm of being thin.

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