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A study of African American dramatic literature to explore the complex ways in which the black experience is constructed and presented by playwrights. Students may have an opportunity to experience a theatrical production in New York City. More specifically, this course is divided into distinct sections. It includes a historical overview of early Black theatre throughout the diaspora. It considers how mid-twentieth century playwrights like Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka, and Ntozake Shange shape the aesthetics and discourses within Black theatre, and in doing so, create trajectories for contemporary Black playwrights, who also explore the social, political and cultural experiences of Africana people.

A study of African American dramatic literature to explore the complex ways in which the black experience is constructed and presented by playwrights. Students may have an opportunity to experience a theatrical production in New York City. More specifically, this course is divided into distinct sections. It includes a historical overview of early Black theatre throughout the diaspora. It considers how mid-twentieth century playwrights like Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, Leroi Jones/Amiri Baraka, and Ntozake Shange shape the aesthetics and discourses within Black theatre, and in doing so, create trajectories for contemporary Black playwrights, who also explore the social, political and cultural experiences of Africana people.

In this course, we will encounter works from a variety of genres, including literature that takes place in surreal worlds or has surreal elements, such as science fiction, fantasy, and other realistic fiction short stories. We will explore how such genres explore social conflicts. In particular, we will pay careful attention in this class to perspective. Every single individual human being has unique perspectives that are shaped by the time and space in which they live, their very own experiences and the conditions to which they have been exposed, the information they have received, seen and are aware of. The uniqueness of our own perspectives often make it difficult for us to see or understand the world through others’ perspectives, and many conflicts throughout history, both micro (ex: arguments with your sibling, friend) and macro (war, politics) have often resulted from differences in perspective. Through our exploration of science fiction, poetry, and other short stories, we will seek to examine how differences in perspective can come to shape our realities, and where those perspectives come from. Also be aware of how literature itself is a way of gaining insight into perspectives of others that we might otherwise not have access to, through their stories, into their worlds. Also consider how although we will be working for the most part with fiction, fiction is born from reality – therefore, always seek to make connections to social, political, historical, or even personal contexts. Whether it be referencing to something you read in the news, something relevant to our current times, or something you experienced, seek connections. The fiction (the surreal) and the real are intertwined with each other.

In this course, we will encounter works from a variety of genres, including literature that takes place in surreal worlds or has surreal elements, such as science fiction, fantasy, and other realistic fiction short stories. We will explore how such genres explore social conflicts. In particular, we will pay careful attention in this class to perspective. Every single individual human being has unique perspectives that are shaped by the time and space in which they live, their very own experiences and the conditions to which they have been exposed, the information they have received, seen and are aware of. The uniqueness of our own perspectives often make it difficult for us to see or understand the world through others’ perspectives, and many conflicts throughout history, both micro (ex: arguments with your sibling, friend) and macro (war, politics) have often resulted from differences in perspective. Through our exploration of science fiction, poetry, and other short stories, we will seek to examine how differences in perspective can come to shape our realities, and where those perspectives come from. Also be aware of how literature itself is a way of gaining insight into perspectives of others that we might otherwise not have access to, through their stories, into their worlds. Also consider how although we will be working for the most part with fiction, fiction is born from reality – therefore, always seek to make connections to social, political, historical, or even personal contexts. Whether it be referencing to something you read in the news, something relevant to our current times, or something you experienced, seek connections. The fiction (the surreal) and the real are intertwined with each other.