I. Exam
In the in-class exam, you will select four critical and comparative questions (out of seven) about the class sources. They will allow you to practice your analytical skills.
Focus on the following topics and sources:
.Histories of slavery and Black formation (Mbembe)
.The notions of “race,” “man,” and the “west”(Mbembe and Trouillot)
.Black diasporic rituals and spiritual practices (Mbembe/ They Are We)
.The “unthinkable” Haitian Revolution, its discourses and legacies (Trouillot)
.Histories and legacies of marronage (Price and videos of contemporary maroon towns in Brazil and Colombia)
.Maroon poetics (Brown)
II. Zine Workshop
Zines are easier to describe than define. They’re “do-it-yourself” (DIY) handmade magazines that come in all different shapes, sizes, and formats. Many are handwritten, photocopied, and stapled, while some may be professionally printed magazine-like publications. They are a unique form of personal self-expression and can cover just about any subject you can think of. Some common themes include feminism, music, politics, activism, literature, personal, crafts, art and design, and travel. Frequently, distribution is done by the zine creators themselves through exchange and trade. Building community through sharing this way is an integral part of the zine experience. Collecting zines in libraries is important because zines document contemporary popular culture, making them important primary source material for future scholarship—plus they’re a lot of fun!
.The first section of the proposal will be a concise reflection on what you have learned from the class so far and your expectations for the second half of the semester.
.The second section will explain the themes you are interested in exploring in the zine. Be specific. Topics could include but are not limited to:
.Histories of racial perspectives
.Hertories of Black liberation in the Americas
.Legacies and spaces of marronage
.Black diasporic rituals and spiritual practices
.Afro-Latinx visual arts, storytelling and poetics
.Afro-Latinx music and performances
.In the last section of your proposal you will discuss how are you planning to creatively engage with your topics. Will you include poems, short stories, photos, illustrations, collages, word art, etc.?
Where to find Zines for reference: