AAS 302 - Black Popular Culture

3 credit hours - This course offers an interdisciplinary approach to critically examining the definitions of Black popular culture in the United States. The readings for this course will draw upon theory and concepts related to media studies, cultural studies, gender studies, and race studies in order to better understand the impact that the various mediums that serve to construct what is known as “popular culture” (music, television, film, art, etc.) play in the construction of “Blackness”. In particular, this course will focus on the historical relationship of Blacks to mainstream culture by encouraging students to critically examine “popular” representations of “Blackness” in order to better understand the complex issues related to Black identity, as well as explore their own participation in embracing and/or resisting “Black” representations and the impact of “Black” popular culture on their lived experiences. The specific focus of this course can vary based on the preference of the instructor; therefore, students can take this course more than on