Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0310 - Black Aesthetics

An exploration of conceptual frames and artistic/literary strategies shaping the burgeoning field of Black Aesthetics, as exemplified by recent practices and theories. What role do notions of the aesthetic and the political play in shifts that are happening in the field? How do understandings of the cosmopolitan, the cross-cultural, the nation, the local, migration, diaspora, gender, race, queering, culture, and the global take form in current work? What new questions arise? Artworks in multiple media and traditions will be considered. The course will develop synergies with the "Questioning Aesthetics Symposium: Black Aesthetics" (Hampshire College, March 31-April 1, 2017), the exhibition "Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker's Tales of Slavery and Power" (UMCA, February-April 2017), and other events in the Five Colleges during the Spring 2017 semester.

Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research In this course, students are expected to spend 7-8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time.