Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0205 - Black Feminism Today

In this course, we will consider and study how Black feminist writing, specifically prose, operates as a mode of "living and feeling, dreaming and being," as Jennifer Nash calls it. Examining and theorizing Black life in the first quarter of the twenty-first century, Black feminism today questions theories that would reduce Black life to Black death. In refusing this reduction, Black women offer alternatives through their aesthetic choices to center "beauty, intimacy, and care . . . as fierce and rigorous practice[s] of Black survival" and thriving, as Tina Campt argues. Writers will include Saidiya Hartman, Christina Sharpe, Marquis Bey, and Imani Perry among others. Presentations and frequent short, in-class writing assignments will spark the work to be done in longer writing assignments and final projects that will be negotiated with the instructor. Keywords:Black, feminism, women, writing, theory

In/Justice The content of this course deals with issues of race and power. Students should expect to spend 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time Library Materials: Elizabeth Alexander, The Trayvon Generation Marquis Bey, Black Trans Feminism Saidiya Hartman, Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments Jennifer Nash, How We Write Now Imani Perry, Breathe Christina Sharpe, Ordinary Notes-. In the Wake Books: Title:The Trayvon Generation Author:Alexander, Elizabeth ISBN:978-1538737897 Cost:$8.00 Title:Black Trans Feminism Author:Bey, Marquis ISBN:978-1478017813 Cost:$28.00 Title:Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments Author:Hartman, Saidiya ISBN:978-0393357622 Cost:$16.00 Title:How We Write Now Author:Nash, Jennifer ISBN:978-1478030461 Cost:$25.00 Title:Perry, Imani Author:Breathe ISBN:978-0807076552 Cost:$11.00 Title:Ordinary Notes Author:Christina Sharpe ISBN:978-0374604486 Cost:$14.50