2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin

AFR 241 Poetic Justice: Spoken Word Poetry and Performance

3 hours

This course will explore the powerful genre of contemporary spoken word poetry as it developed in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Through study of the craft, students will understand spoken word poetry as an Africana discourse and will examine its position in relation to justice and to its social contexts in the diaspora. Students will analyze video, texts, and live performances to assess how meaning is made and experience is interpreted through spoken word poetry. Students will develop their own poetic voice and sculpt their performance style through weekly writing exercises, in-class open mics, visiting artists, and a performance showcase.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENG 101

Notes

This course satisfies the Flexible Core: Creative Expression area of the Gen Ed Program.