The Revolution Will Not be Televised: Poetry and the Politics of Representation

What are the political effects of representing a person, thing, or event? Is representation itself a useful political goal? With an emphasis on racial politics, this class examines how poetry plays with representability and irrepresentability to call attention to and perhaps change how we see each other and the world. Readings include works by Gertrude Stein, Claudia Rankine, Mercedes Eng, and Layli Long Soldier. Materials may also include popular music by artists like Bob Dylan and Solange. Enrollment limited to 17.