Theater 393F - S- Hip-Hop Feminisms

Fall
2018
01
3.00
Nia Witherspoon
M W 10:10AM 12:05PM
UMass Amherst
82017
New Arica House Room 402
nwitherspoon@umass.edu
82048,82135
Hip-Hop Feminisms is a multidisciplinary course that investigates the theory, praxis, methodology, and impact of the multifarious figures and genres that circulate under this umbrella. Holding critically the assumed contradictions in its title-- hip-hop's assumed misogyny and feminism's assumed whiteness-- Hip-Hop Feminisms intervenes fiercely in binary thinking, highlighting the ways in which examining figures like Nicki Minaj, Beyonce, Rihanna, Cardi B, Missy Elliot, Queen Latifah and Roxanne Shante, and performance forms like twerking and voguing place us at the nexus of significant cultural debates around identity, desire, representation, the body, and liberation. Foregrounding the critiques of black and women of color feminisms, and incorporating insights of queer studies, performance studies, critical race theory, and hip-hop studies, this course lifts up these often under-explored cultural transcripts and empowers young scholars to engage critically with influential pop culture phenomena and independent-artists alike.
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.