Their affection is “a battle hug between two true warriors,” Adjei-Brenyah writes, “the kind the world hadn’t seen for centuries.” They’re athletes, they’re killers, they’re sex symbols: They’re the ultimate celebrities in a society that legitimizes the erotic thrill of violence with a veneer of fair competition. At the center of the story are the BattleGround stars Loretta Thurwar and her vivacious lover, Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker. But the real power of Adjei-Brenyah’s novel stems from its focus on a few prisoners caught up in this ghoulish entertainment. And a series of hit-and-run footnotes makes the contemporary allusions wincingly clear. The slick violence of “Chain-Gang All-Stars,” with its array of technological terrors, would be enough to sustain a clever work of science fiction. With a grimly funny take on reality TV, the prisoners who sign up for BattleGround are not just observed on the field they’re monitored 24/7 by a swarm of tiny drones that broadcast their every moment in 3D video for a highly rated sister show called “LinkLyfe.” Masks are strongly recommended in the Schomburg Center and all NYPL locations.The panopticon prison designed by Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century has reached its ultimate expression in the world imagined by Adjei-Brenyah. Please continue to check this page and the Schomburg Tours page for updates and more information.
Though there are no guided tours at this time, we are working diligently to restore this key service to visitors in summer 2023. The Shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 11 AM-6 PM. Items are created by Black and Brown artists. The Schomburg Shopsells clothing, jewelry, books, and more for all ages. To learn about the Center's research divisions, schedule an appointment, or find out about other services, see our resources for researchers.
prison system on contemporary visual art, is open through Monday, December 4. Our newest exhibition Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration, which explores the impact of the U.S. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
0 kommentar(er)
