Fall 2019
Jacqueline-Bethel Mougoué
3 credits
M 3:30-5:25pm
Fulfills Humanities, Intermediate
Afrofuturism is a new and rapidly developing interdisciplinary genre. It is a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science, and philosophy of history that addresses the developing intersection of African cultural expressivities and performances with technology. One key question will guide this upper level course: How does the Afrofuturist genre (re)imagine gender norms and sexual identities on the continent and in the diaspora? By the end of the course, students will have a better knowledge of Afrofuturism and the role of gender, and sexuality in it. Students will also be encouraged to think critically about how Afrofuturism should be put into practice. The coursework includes readings and written critical responses. The course’s one major paper will require interdisciplinary research on gender and sexuality in Afrofuturism.
Because Afrofuturism is a developing interdisciplinary genre, course materials will draw from diverse disciplines and sources including films, music, podcasts, documentaries, street art, dance, photography, Instagram, and clothing practices as well as scholarly texts. Readings include Afrofuturism 2.0: The Rise of Astro-Blackness (2015) edited by Reynaldo Anderson and Charles E. Jones, Children of Blood and Bone (2018) by Tomi Adeyemi, How Long ‘til Black Future Month? (2018) by N. K. Jemisin, and World of Wakanda (2016) by Roxane Gay and Yona Harvey, the first black women to author a series for Marvel Comics. The lecture schedule will include several “Scholar meets ACS students” sessions in which various guest speakers share their works on related course topics with students.