BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions

BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions is designed as a cinematic experience to mirror the sonic textures of a music album. Adapted from Kahlil Joseph’s highly acclaimed video art installation, which was shown at the Venice Biennale in 2019, the film interweaves fictional and historical characters in an immersive story that spans 247 years across land and sea. The ocean reveals its mysteries to those passengers aboard the transatlantic liner “The Nautica” who are willing to pause and listen. The film can be viewed as a form of inventory as the collective memories of Black people and the history of the diaspora are brought together in a multi-layered narrative. In its mix of fictional and documentary forms, the film is inspired by W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Saidiya Hartman and others, juxtaposing their ideas with archive material and samples from YouTube, social media, film, television and journalism.
The film’s unique stereo sound was mastered by a music engineer. The artists involved, including Arthur Jafa and Garrett Bradley, deliver their distinct perspectives across the 21 tracks.