Janelle Monáe’s ”Metropolis: The Chase Suite”
Listen now
Description
Musician and film star Janelle Monáe began her catapult to fame with her five suite and three album "Metropolis" series, which builds a wonderfully rich futuristic universe, chock full of references that situate it within the traditions of science fiction, Afrofuturism, and music of all genres. In this episode, we focus on the first iteration of this series, the 2007 E.P. "Metropolis: The Chase Suite." This E.P. introduces the main character and conflict of the story: Android Cindi Mayweather has transgressed the laws of her society by falling in love with a human, and now must face life on the run. This work provides inspiration for discussions about imaginations of the future, ethics of technology, the importance of the physical media of albums, and of course, robot love.   References Janelle Monae, "Many Moons" Short Film Sesame Street, Pinball Sequence    
More Episodes
From the alien dolphins in "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (so long and thanks for all the fish) to the whale on the cover of the They Might be Giants album "Apollo 18," there are numerous examples of cosmic-dwelling cetaceans in science fiction and other space imaginings. Even more...
Published 08/19/24
Published 08/19/24
On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will sweep across much of North America, within view of millions of people. Most excitingly, the path of totality is coming by Bloomington, Indiana, current home of Cosmophonia! Your hosts have been involved in several music-space events in town,...
Published 04/06/24