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. |
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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