AFR 224 African American Women in Art

3 hours 

The course examines the representation of African-American women in art throughout the centuries, particularly the stereotypes of the Mammy, Sapphire and Jezebel; and the history of African-American women artists from slavery to the present, as they struggled to combat these negative stereotypes through their lives and art. A study of the American slave experience and Post-Reconstruction will lay the foundation for understanding the myriad misconceptions about African-American women and how their images have been manipulated in art and popular culture. Each class will present a series of visual art images via slide presentations and films of the artwork discussed. Whenever possible, gallery or museum visits will be incorporated into the course.