Old Media New Artists: Innovation and Contingency in African American Culture

What are the defining characteristics of newness in twentieth-century African American culture? How have black creative artists repurposed their respective disciplines in accordance with and against the shifting proclivities of African American social politics? Through an interdisciplinary focus that considers music, literature, visual arts, and interactive media, this seminar proposes several alternative epistemological frameworks for recognizing the emerging artistry of our time. Enrollment is limited to 20 graduate students.