Black Performance Theory
THEA 266
Fall 2020 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
AFAM 266, ENGL 263, FGSS 276 |
What does it mean to perform identity, to perform race, to perform blackness? How is blackness defined as both a radical aesthetic and an identity? In this course, we will focus on theater and performance as a resource for thinking about black history, identity, and radical politics in excess of the written word. Following recent work in Black Studies and Performance Studies, this class will pay particular attention to the doing of blackness, the visible, sonic, and haptic performances that give over to a radical way of seeing, feeling, and being in an anti-black world. Plays, films, and texts might include works by Fred Moten, Alexander Weheilye, Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, Suzan Lori-Parks, Danai Gurira, Shane Vogel, Adrienne Kennedy, Sarah Jane Cervenak, Dee Rees, Celiné Sciamma, Saidiya Hartman, Huey P. Copeland, Darby English, Lorraine Hansberry, Hilton Als, Spike Lee, Isaac Julien, Martine Syms, Tavia Nyong'o, and Daphne Brooks. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA THEA |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(ENGL)(ENGL-Literature)(THEA) |
Major Readings:
Fred Moten, IN THE BREAK
Alexander Weheilye, HABEAS VISCUS
Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins, APPROPRIATE
Shane Vogel, THE SCENE OF HARLEM CABARET
Adrienne Kennedy, FUNNYHOUSE OF A NEGRO
Sarah Jane Cervenak, WANDERING
Dee Rees, PARIAH
Celiné Sciamma, BANDE DE FILLES
Saidiya Hartman, VENUS IN TWO ACTS
Huey P. Copeland, BOUND TO APPEAR
Darby English, HOW TO SEE A WORK OF ART IN TOTAL DARKNESS
Lorraine Hansberry, LES BLANCS
Hilton Als, WHITE GIRLS
Spike Lee, BAMBOOZLED
Isaac Julien, TRUE NORTH
Martine Syms, MISDIRECTED KISS
Tavia Nyong'o, RACIAL KITSCH AND BLACK PERFORMANCE
Daphne Brooks, BODIES IN DISSENT
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Literatures of Difference requirement and contributes to the American Literature and Race & Ethnicity concentrations of the English Major.
The Theater Department organizes a variety of performances for students enrolled in its courses. Field trips to see performances off campus are integrated into course syllabi. Instructors will notify students of all dates at the beginning of the semester and costs for all course field trips are covered (specifically, transportation to and from the performance and tickets). Any potential scheduling conflicts for field trips should be discussed with faculty members. Once students indicate that they are going and tickets are purchased, it is assumed they will attend. (Students backing out of field trips they had said they would attend will be asked to cover the cost of their ticket.) Performances of visitors to Wesleyan's Center for the Arts are integrated into course syllabi and students are required to attend these performances unless otherwise negotiated with instructors. Tickets for performances are available to students at the Box Office in Usdan at the reduced price of $6.00. |
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