In Janelle Monae's full-length debut, the science fiction concept album The ArchAndroid, the android Cindi Mayweather is on the run from the authorities for the crime of loving a human. Living in 28th century Metropolis, Cindi fights for survival, soon realizing that she is in fact the prophesied ArchAndroid, a robot messiah meant to liberate the masses and lead them toward a wonderland where all can be free. Taking into account the literary merit of Monae's astounding multimedia body of work, the political relevance of the science fictional themes and aesthetics she explores, and her role as an Atlanta-based pop cultural juggernaut, this book explores the lavish world building of Cindi's story, and the many literary, cinematic, and musical influences brought together to create it. Throughout, a history of Monae's move to Atlanta, her signing with Bad Boy Records, and the trials of developing a full-length concept album in an industry devoted to the production of marketable singles can be found, charting the artist's own rise to power. The stories of Monae and of Cindi are inextricably entwined, each making the other more compelling, fantastical, and deeply felt.

Blends the history of The Archandroid's production with a literary analysis of the concept album's science fiction content.

About the Author
Alyssa Favreau holds a Master's degree in English literature from the Universite de Montreal, with a focus on science fiction. She works as a freelance writer, researcher, and proofreader, as well as the magazines buyer at the Drawn & Quarterly bookstore. She cohosts the Broad Science podcast, and her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Reader's Digest, Popular Science, Discover, and Bitch, among others.


Book Information
ISBN 9781501355707
Author Alyssa Favreau
Format Paperback
Page Count 152
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic USA
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Weight(grams) 148g