Dr. Angela M. S. Nelson, Department of Popular Culture, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403-0226, (419) 372-0284; e-mail: anelson@bgnet.bgsu.edu
Course Description:
POPC 680 Introduction to Black Popular Culture seeks to define and describe
20th century African American popular culture as it exists in the United
States. African American popular culture forms and those elements of
African American folk culture absorbed into mainstream American popular
culture will be examined as well as the larger context of American consumer
capitalism, issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and class.
Required Books:
Dates, Jannette L. and William Barlow, ed. Split Image: African
Americans in the Mass Media. 1990. SI
George, Nelson. The Death of Rhythm and Blues. 1988. TDRB
Hazzard-Gordon, Katrina. Jookin': The Rise of Social Dance Formations
in African American Culture. 1990. JOOK
Morrison, Toni. 1970. The Bluest Eye. 1993. TBE
Shaw, Harry B., ed. Perspectives of Black Popular Culture. 1990. PBPC
Welsh-Asante, Kariamu. The African Aesthetic. 1994. TAA
Course Assignments and Projects:
Two Exams (40%)
Exams include material from lectures, supplemental and required text
readings, and audiovisual presentations.
Paper #1 (15%)
Write a 3-5 page paper focusing on any general topic in black popular culture.
Suggested topics are listed below:
1. Demonstrate the ways in which white American mainstream popular
culture products greatly influenced the lives of one, some, or all
of the characters in Morrison's novel.
2. Discuss liberation as a significant motif in black popular culture
as evidenced in one or two aspects of African American popular culture.
3. Illustrate the ways in which the white supremacy-slave mentality
theodicy is a dominant motif in African American discourse.
4. Respond to excerpt from James Weldon Johnson's autobiography.
5. Respond to excerpt from bell hooks' essay.
6. Student's choice but must be clearly related to black popular
culture.
Paper #2 (15%)
1. Watch six episodes of one black situation comedy listed below.
a. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
b. Martin
c. Living Single
d. Family Matters
e. Hangin' With Mr. Cooper.
2. The paper must (1) compare/contrast the chosen sitcom to at least
one white (or Asian American) mainstream situation comedy and (2)
compare/contrast the individual episodes viewed.
3. Compare the six episodes and comment on their overall continuity
and commonalities from episode to episode, and their differences from
episode to episode.
Oral Presentation (20%)
Develop a presentation that features any aspect of study of interest to you.
Include a written component of 2-3 pages. The Written Component will be
evaluated for a clear statement of the topic, the relevance of the topic to
black popular culture studies, and evidence of critical thinking. The
Written Component should be viewed as an abbreviated and condensed version
of the main ideas, major findings, inquiries, and/or discoveries presented
in the Oral Presentation. The Presentations will be evaluated in five
categories for a maximum total of 10 points: statement of topic, relevance
of topic to black popular culture, evidence of critical thinking, vocal
delivery, and timing.
Portfolio (10%)
Compile a portfolio in a 3-ring notebook with pocket inserts or pockets in
the notebook. Include all of the your work this semester arranged in
chronological order. This includes but is not limited to pretests,
posttests, quizzes, in-class writing assignments, in-class viewings, papers,
exams, oral presentations, and all handouts from the instructor. The purpose
of the portfolio is to document student progress throughout the semester.
Class Agenda and Reading Assignment Schedule:
January 12 Pre-Test
Introduction to course
January 19 Defining African American Popular Culture
PBPC 1-6; 101-108
January 26 Black Popular Dance
TAA
JOOK (entire)
February 2 Black Popular Music
TAA
SI (1)
TDRB (2-4)
PBPC 7-21
February 9 Black Popular Music
TDRB (5-7)
SI (2)
PBPC 109-119
February 16 Black Popular Music
Paper #1 due
February 23 Black Language/Literature TBE
(entire)
March 2 Black Language/Literature
PBPC 36-45; 58-64; 144-154
SI (7)
March 9 Exam #1
March 16 Black Images in American Popular Culture
(Radio, Film, TV)
SI (Introduction, Conclusion, 4, 5)
Paper #2 due
March 20-24 No Class Spring Recess
March 30 Black Images in American Popular Culture
SI (3)
PBPC 131-143; 166-179
April 6 Oral Presentations (or March 30 continued)
April 13 Oral Presentations
April 20 Oral Presentations
April 27 Exam #2
Portfolio due
Post-Test