African American Representation in Popular Culture

3 units

This course will explore how American society has historically represented African-Americans and how black people have represented themselves internally to the black community and externally to the world. Furthermore, how black representation is co-produced through interactions by the mass media, American society and the black community will be examined by focusing on specific themes. Some of the areas of black representation that will be discussed are visual (photo and video), scientific, technological, music, sport, black men, black women, sexuality, black poor, black affluent, black nationalism and black conservatism.