Indigenous Futurisms with Nicole Furtado

Featured in the second episode of "Reparative Histories of Art and Architecture" is Dr. Nicole Kuʻuleinapuananiolikoʻawapuhimelemeleolani Furtado, assistant professor of History of Art and Visual Culture at UC Santa Cruz. Dr. Furtado draws on insights from her studies in Indigenous Futurisms, literature, and remix theory to illustrate the impact of perspectivism on art history and social justice. Additionally, she discusses how the question, "What does it mean to be human?" has influenced her thus far.  Dr. Furtado's primary research focus is Indigenous futurities, which is a field in both academia and art that centers the role of Indigenous people in imagining the future. Her work is supplemented through speculative aesthetics and remix theory, which are both about considering and altering the methods by which one creates: Rather than accepting the futures prescribed by normative civilizational development, speculative aesthetics imagine different ways the future might look. Remix theory reimagines combinations of preexisting ideas to create something new. Additionally, she highly values perspectivism, a method that recognizes that nothing can be viewed with complete objectivity due to the fact that everyone holds unique viewpoints. Using these practices, Nicole Furtado's goal with her work is to center Indigenous people in the face of progressing social technologies that may prioritize colonial ideologies in art and academia.  Key Topics: 3:04 Dr. Furtado shares her beginnings in studying science fiction and her journey from that to Indigenous Futurisms and perspectivism, upon which she now bases her studies. 7:48 Dr. Furtado poses the question of how social justice should be defined, if it can be, and the importance of the conversations that stem from this question.  13:21 Dr. Furtado explains how she applied an interdisciplinary approach to developing a method to discuss problems within her communities.  16:51 Referencing Solomon Enos, Noah Harders, Sylvia Wynter, and José Muñoz, Dr. Furtado returns to the inquiry of what it means to be human, specifically in relation to technology in art. Additionally, Dr. Furtado further defines futurism and how it transcends solely observing the future.  21:35 Using her short story as an example, Dr. Furtado explores how she applies speculative aesthetics and also mentions two of her mentors, Sherryl Vint and Nalo Hopkinson, who helped her begin this practice.  28:36 Dr. Furtado examines remix theory and articulates how sometimes students feel the need to be permitted to claim agency in their work, sharing how people such as Noelani Goodyear-Ka'ōpua and Mark Amerika guided her.  35:25 Concluding the episode, Dr. Furtado returns to the concept of perspectivism and how it's essential for addressing nuance in art history as opposed to focusing on objective analysis. To exemplify this, Dr. Furtado references a discussion with her colleague, Dr. CJ Jackson, about the 1872 painting by John Gast, entitled "American Progress," which illustrates the concept of Manifest Destiny. With questions and comments, please contact us via email at [email protected]. Show notes written by Allison Naydan Music by Jacob Napier