Middlebury

AMST0204A-F15

Black Comic Cultures

Black Comic Cultures
In this course we will explore a range of black comic cultures, analyzing their emergence and transformation from the early 20th century to the present. Specifically, we will examine blackface minstrels of the early 20th century such as George Walker and Bert Williams, Bill Cosby’s performances in the 60s, and the ribald humor of LaWanda Page’s 1970s party records, before moving to the urban scene embodied in television shows such as Def Comedy Jam. We will also engage with theoretical materials that help us analyze black comedy as multidimensional, such as John Limon’s Stand-up Comedy in Theory, or, Abjection in America. (Critical Race Feminisms) 3 hrs. lect.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
91987
Subject Code:
AMST
Course Number:
0204
Section Identifier:
A

Course

AMST 0204

All Sections in Fall 2015

Fall 2015

AMST0204A-F15 Lecture (Finley)