Memory Room 451 (1996)

Memory Room 451 (1996) poster

The subject matter of Memory Room 451 is the cultural and historical significance of 20th-century hairstyles – the Afro, the conk, dreadlocks – in Black communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Akomfrah has disguised this exploration as a science fiction story – in the manner of the groundbreaking writers profiled in The Last Angel of History – while providing a bravura display of the aesthetics of video art in the 1990s. The tale of visitors from the future who gather dreams from unwitting subjects in order to construct a history of the Black diaspora both defamiliarizes Akomfrah’s ongoing project and points to the danger that extracting history from memory can be a kind of expropriation.

Director: John Akomfrah
Genre: Science Fiction, Documentary
Runtime: 25 min
Release Date:
Production: Black Audio Film Collective
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

short film

More Films by Director: John Akomfrah
More Films in Genre: Science Fiction, Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Memory Room 451 about?
The subject matter of Memory Room 451 is the cultural and historical significance of 20th-century hairstyles – the Afro, the conk, dreadlocks – in Black communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Akomfrah has disguised this exploration as a science fiction story – in the manner of the groundbreaking writers profiled in The Last Angel of History – while providing a bravura display of the aesthetics of video art in the 1990s. The tale of visitors from the future who gather dreams from unwitting subjects in order to construct a history of the Black diaspora both defamiliarizes Akomfrah’s ongoing project and points to the danger that extracting history from memory can be a kind of expropriation.
Who directed Memory Room 451?
Memory Room 451 was directed by John Akomfrah.
How long is Memory Room 451?
Memory Room 451 has a runtime of 25m (25 minutes).
What genre is Memory Room 451?
Memory Room 451 is a Science Fiction, Documentary film.
Where was Memory Room 451 produced?
Memory Room 451 was produced in United Kingdom.