SIUE Students Host Comic Book, Afrofuturism-based Runway Fashion Show Inspired by Black Lit Network
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students of African American literary studies professor Howard Rambsy, PhD, brought out their inner comic book fan to walk the runway in Afrofuturism fashion. The Comic Book and Afrofuturism Fashion Show took place on Dec. 3 at Lovejoy Library. Students mostly modeled their outfits after lead characters in the “Black Panther” comic book series.
“I'm finishing a book on the subject, so they were on my mind. I then developed an expanded list, and the students made selections from those,” said Rambsy who was recently awarded grant from the Mellon Foundation to support the expansion of the Black Lit Network, a digital resource dedicated to African American literary studies.
The event was one of a number of activities associated African American literary studies and “SIUE Reads,” a book reading series sponsored by the Hansen Humanities Network made possible by a generous endowed gift from Julia Y. and Stephen L. Hansen to the College of Arts and Sciences. This was the second in a series of Black Books Fashion Shows coordinated by Rambsy.
Graduating senior Arie Johnson served as the director of the event. The criminal justice major has devoted her spare time participating in modeling and other arts-related activities. Johnson organized this show and gave mini-lessons on walking the runway. According to Johnson, the show was presented as her “real senior project.”
The Black Books Fashion Show gave students a chance to merge creativity, performance, and Black intellectual and speculative continuums. It also highlighted SIUE’s growing emphasis on connecting humanities study with expressive cultural practice.
“African American literary studies at SIUE is yet again trying to push the boundaries on what's possible,” said Rambsy.
Watch students model their favorite genre in style.
Photos by Davion Sides
