Afro-surrealism can be found in multiple forms of media, but its prevalence in film and television has become very evident over the last decade. It can be used for many reasons, but it's most frequently used to add multiple layers to the social commentary that the project may be trying to get across, typically from Black creatives.
The concept dates back decades, mostly being found in visual art and literature. In the realm of film and television, the style is transcendent and seen through a unique lens that helps navigate the world. Some of the best contemporary creatives have utilized this trope, such as Jordan Peele and Donald Glover.
Black Orpheus (1959)
One of the earliest examples of a film using moments of surrealism that could fall under the Afro-surrealism umbrella was in the 1959 romantic tragedy, Black Orpheus. Starring an Afro-Latino cast, the film's combination of themes surrounding music, mythology, and religion alongside its representation made for a self-conscious and art-directed film.
The Brazilian-based movie would inspire many artists that saw the film, including other filmmakers and musicians. In recent years, films like Donald Glover's Guava Island in 2019 followed the blueprint that Black Orpheus set decades ago, showing that the film's legacy is alive and well.
Atlanta (2016 - present)
When people hear the term "Afro-surrealism," FX's Atlanta is one of the first things to come to mind. On the surface, the series follows Earn Marks as he manages his cousin Alfred's rap career and the trials and tribulations that come with being a rising star. But the series is much more than that, providing unique commentary in seemingly every episode.
The show is full of strange and hilarious occurrences and gives the viewers something to ponder after every respective episode is over. The show's surrealism touches on a plethora of topics like race relations, the music industry, and even Black culture as a whole. Atlanta's use of Afro-surrealism arguably reached an all-time high in its third season, as the series introduced a handful of anthology episodes mirroring real-life situations.
Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele's directorial debut, have analyzed the film's commentary and its use of surrealism for years at this point.
Peele and his directing style go hand in hand with Afro-surrealism, and it was first evident in this film. "The Sunken Place" is one of the most prominent examples of Afro-surrealism in Get Out, representing an abyss-like purgatory and becoming a real-life term thanks to the film.
Random Acts of Flyness (2018 - present)
Random Acts of Flyness is one of the few sketch shows currently airing that touches on social issues in a funny and nuanced manner but still finds a way to stand out. From Terrence Nance and production company A24, the show blends impressive cinematography and different mediums to springboard its use of Afro-surrealism.
Each sketch and segment differs itself from the next, but they stay grounded through meta-commentary about being Black in America. The unpredictability of the show gives viewers a distinctive experience, alongside a solid cast of guest stars.
Sorry To Bother You (2018)
After his breakthrough role as Darius in Atlanta, Lakeith Stanfield found himself in a leading role in another great project that uses elements of Afro-surrealism in Boots Riley's Sorry to Bother You in 2018.
While the main character's name "Cash Green" should point the audience to the message the film is trying to get across, it manages to create an interesting story and a plot twist that most viewers would never see coming. On top of a great cast, the film provides introspective commentary on the corporate world and managing relationships after finding immediate success.
Us (2019)
Jordan Peele's 2019 feature Us probably leans into traditional horror more so than his other two films. But with that being said, there were plenty of moments of surrealism reflected by the Wilson family and their tethered duplicates.
One of the notable aspects of the film is its use of music and the symbolism that follows it. The film's creepy and orchestral version of "I Got 5 On It" by Luniz and the other songs used aided by Michael Abels' score juxtaposed with the Wilson family's escape from their doppelgängers left the audience with sonorous imagery.
Lovecraft Country (2020)
While Lovecraft Country only had a single season run, the show was acclaimed by both critics and viewers alike, who felt the show didn't get a fair chance to fully flesh out its story. But across Lovecraft Country's lone 10 episodes, the series established itself as what might be the first-period show to use elements of Afro-surrealism.
Taking place in 1950s Jim Crow America, there was plenty that the series could do considering the period it takes place in. Seeing 1950s America through the surrealist lens of the Lovecraft mythos and an all-black cast makes Lovecraft Country one of a kind. While the series had a short run, it could be the foundation for similar series that follow it.
Nope (2022)
The 2022 sci-fi-western-horror epic Starring Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya as the Haywood brother-sister duo, the film creates the surrealist atmosphere that Peele has become known for.
Nope leaves a lot for the viewer's own interpretation, but its uses of the trope can be seen through the Haywoods and their pursuit of their "Oprah Shot" of Jean Jacket. Characters like the Haywoods and even Stephen Yuen's character Jupe are rarely portrayed as they are in Nope, giving general audiences a new perspective of what Black and POC characters can be in genre storytelling.
Candyman (2021)
The first Candyman film from 1992 had elements of surrealism on its own, and the 2021 sequel directed by Nia DaCosta leaned into the trope even more, providing plenty of examples of Afro-surrealism throughout the film.
Not only are the main characters literal artists themselves, but their work reflects some of the problems that Black Americans have had to endure currently and in the past. In a way, the film is rooted in the original ideas of Afro-surrealism and how the concept was conceived decades ago through different art movements.
