So, is a picture worth a thousand words?

Some people believe that the statement about a picture and words were translated from an utterance provided by Napoleon Bonaparte. Other talking heads take issue with that analysis and vigorously cite that the origin of the phrase is distinctly American. While the statement may have been articulated beforehand in some other country, most purveyors of the American spirit agree that in the early 20^th century (1921 in fact) American Frederick R. Barnard used the phrase and attributed it to a Japanese philosopher.  In a difference of opinion, others think the phrase dates to 1802 and is grounded in Chinese origins and philosophy. Regardless of when and by whom, the public continues to use the phrase and does not spend any time thinking about who said what and when it was said. 

Now, stay with me on this blog post as I purposely change direction…sort of. 

Science fiction has a traditional and long-standing history of exploring and presenting worlds, situations, and people that may not actually exist in real time or are even manifested in our wildest dreams and imagination. Graphic  novels, in a contemporary vein, bring a style and nuance that push traditional comic book panels to an entirely different level. But there is the ongoing nagging issue as to how and why characters of color or other traditionally denied folks are represented in 21^st century popular culture; why such folk are still being erased in 2019 or never making it to a storyboard in significant numbers. 

Of course, current TV commercials, movies, and particularly original programming cable programs somewhat led by  premium channels have diversified what the public sees and follows in fictional characters and storylines. Very recent movies (I guess writers, casting agents, producers and directors) have validated that fickle moviegoers are not inherently and only interested in European or white-centric storylines or European/Caucasian main characters. “The Black Panther” experience devastated all previous held assumptions about race, culture, characters etc. in the fantasy world of cinema, science fiction, and graphic novel portrayals. In that regard, aaduna is proud to present a writer who is exploring historical implications and meanings through the eyes and essence of African people and their descendants

Christella Almonacy.

 

Christella Almonacy, photo provided

Ms. Almonacy brings a contemporary vibrancy, poignant intentions and a focused cultural psyche to develop and present challenging characters and storylines that are fermented in the ethos of  African experiences on the continent, as well as when dark-skinned people were violently uprooted and forcibly transplanted, without their consent or will, throughout the “known” world. We just must be mindful that perseverance, strength of character, and humaneness are foundations of survival.  Almonacy reminds us that simple fact of human existence.

Now I know age, social condition, religious, political convictions or gender affiliation may not overwhelmingly determine the vastness and richness of creative aspirations or how those thoughts and feelings are put on paper on in another medium.

So, here is the deal and what Christella is pursuing.

Growing up, as a child, my siblings and I would scream with delight when a Negro was on television, and our parents  or other siblings who were not in the living room , would come running. That was the social condition of then. Too bad we did not have Almonacy!  But I suspect, her creativity would have been ignored and trampled on in  the age of B&W TV and American social mores and acceptance. Too bad, too sad.

aaduna presents

Christella Almonacy’s fiction is in the pending issue that is finally ready to burst loose for its public showing. Give us a few days. We too feel the thrust of creativity. The release is coming!

WATCH FOR aaduna's summer 2019 issue LAUNCHING SOON!

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aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.  Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.

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