Emancipate the Image: Revisiting the Cinematic Ark of Ben Caldwell

Emancipate the Image: Revisiting the Cinematic Ark of Filmmaker Ben Caldwell - Screening & Q&A

Part of PRS's YesterdayLA 2026, our monthlong celebration of our beloved city's rich and diverse past.

Join us for an exploration of the cinematic ark of filmmaker Ben Caldwell in the Philosophical Research Society Auditorium as part of our YesterdayLA series! For over fifty years, Los Angeles legend Ben Caldwell has created films and works of media art that explore the complexity and beauty of the African Diaspora and which transport audiences through the past, present and future.

For this one-night only event, he will screen excerpts from three of these works — Medea (1973); I Fresh (1987/88); Sankofa City (2018) — and engage in a conversation with author and friend Taj Frazier about the power of media and art as social forces and instruments of healing and ancestral and community knowledge. They will conclude the event with a book signing of their coauthored work, KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell (2023).

Ben Caldwell is an arts educator, independent filmmaker, and founder of KAOS Network, a multimedia arts/tech accelerator center located in Leimert Park, a historic and cultural hub of Los Angeles. A native of New Mexico, Caldwell earned an MFA in film and television at UCLA, taught at Howard University and California Institute of the Arts, and is a senior fellow in the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Innovation Lab. Caldwell’s work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at the Tate Modern, Festival des 3 Continents, and the Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival.

Robeson Taj Frazier is a writer, professor, arts and humanities curator, and producer of docuseries and documentary film. He is the host/producer of two PBS productions (the award-winning Hip Hop and the Metaverse and Outside the Lyrics), and the author of several books, which include the award-winning New Yorker magazine favorite, KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell (2023).

ABOUT YesterdayLA

This July, the Philosophical Research Society celebrates our beloved city’s rich and diverse past with YesterdayLA, a month-long exploration of unique stories and works of art that have become part of the fabric of Los Angeles history. The landscape of our city is changing faster than ever before. By examining the LA of yesterday, we invite Angelenos to gather together to not only look back but forward to the possibilities of our great city’s tomorrow.

Throughout its 90+ year history The Philosophical Research Society has stood as a sanctuary for those seeking truth and enlightenment, with its doors open to Angelenos who have created great works of art and innovation, political movements, and spiritual evolutions across the eras. YesterdayLA will explore the fascinating stories of our city’s past with the continued spirit of curiosity that has stood as the pillar of PRS’s mission.

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions

CONTENT DISCLAIMER

The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING

Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking.

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
• No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.