The Big Bang

UG - Undergraduate

The afterglow of the Big Bang was discovered in the 1960s while conducting experiments with radio waves. The scientists encountered a persistent background noise that seemed to come from everywhere. Initially seen as a nuisance, this "noise" was revealed to be the remnant heat from the Big Bang, providing invaluable evidence of the universe's origin. The afterglow serves as proof that the past is not only a distant memory but intricately woven into the fabric of the present, reminding us that remnants of history continue to influence our current realities. We'll explore the "noise" at the intersections of cultures--to look towards writings, archives and films that respond to specific socio-political events, and find languages of responding to our present.

We will read the writings of Stuart Hall, Trinh T. Minh-ha, Jose Luis Falconi, Eve Tuck, K Wayne Yang and Faiz Ahmed Faiz. We will listen to the radio archives such as Radio Alhara and watch films like Milisuthando (2023, Bongela), Mangoes (2000, Abidi) and works of the Black Audio Film Collective.