THE 365 - Black Contemporary Theatre

Webb

How does theatre inform our understanding of Black culture? In the last fifty years, Black playwrights have complicated our perceptions of Blackness by experimenting with content and theatrical form to celebrate, interrogate and (re)define Black identity. Black artists have used theatre to organize communities, share knowledge and cultural wisdom, advocate for social and political activism, and galvanize resistance. Black theatre has become an essential site of inquiry into making sense of the Black experience.

In this course, we will use a combination of the Harkness method and Socratic questioning along with narrative and dramatic theory to analyze Black contemporary plays, from 1980 to present day, as we grapple with the cultural politics of Blackness. We will read critical essays to inform our discussions, collaborate in group activities, write informed responses to Black artists’ work, watch video presentations, and attend a live theatre performance. We will build a community that normalizes the discussion of race and culture in a respectful, thoughtful and nuanced manner.

Satisfies requirements for the Theatre major and minor.
Satisfies the Justice, Equality, and Community requirement.
Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts requirement.