TH 0312 - Black and African American Theatre, Dance, Music, and Performance

Demand 3 Credit Hours
Explores movements in theatre, dance, music, and performances of the African Diaspora, examining historical theater movements within specific social, political, and cultural contexts. Possible specific traditions include African traditional, colonial, and postcolonial performance; African American theatre, dance, music, and performances; and Afro Caribbean theatre, dance, music, and performances. The course will explore the significance of performances as part of a movement, how “community” is defined and created, and the role of race in American or global performance history. Readings will include manifestos, plays, critical analyses, and historical and contextual documents. Artists covered might include August Wilson, Adrienne Kennedy, Suzan Lori Parks, Anna Deveare Smith, Amiri Baraka, Derek Wallcott, Terrell Alvin McCraney, Brian Jacobs Jenkins, Aime Cesaire, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiongo, and Carlyle Brown. Prerequisite: none.