DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation

Co-commissioned by Lincoln Center Festival, Festival D’Automne, and Spoleto Festival USA.

Paul Miller, a.k.a. “DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid,” the New York City-based musician, conceptual artist, and writer, who has been described as “French-literary-theory-meets-Grandmaster-Flash-on-after-hours.” (Rolling Stone) brings his latest multi-media performance DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation, to the Lincoln Center Festival 2004.

Rebirth of a Nation is a compelling, uncompromising and controversial examination of race in America, both past and present, and an exploration of how America’s image of itself is filtered through the lens of the media. This “remix” of D.W. Griffith’s landmark 1915 film The Birth of a Nation combines footage from the film under- and overlaid with visual effects and imagery, including performance footage of dance master Bill T. Jones. DJ Spooky performs a live audio track of jungle and hip-hop samples mixed with an original violin composition by Daniel Bernard Roumain. Considered a seminal work for its cinematic innovation, artistry, and technical effects, Griffith’s film is also known for its profoundly racist message and tainted view of American history. Rebirth is DJ Spooky’s response to the film, using both 21st century technology and social vantage points.