Blackness, Performance, Freedom
Consider the portion of Scene 2 in the “Harriet Jacobs” play by Lydia Diamond—from the top of page 12 through Harriet’s paragraph on page 14 ending with “…I live under the feet of the Whites who wish us to believe that we are animals”—in which Harriet’s picturesque portrayal of the cotton field is interspersed and…
Pick a stage direction from Lydia Diamond’s “Harriet Jacobs” that shows how a certain character should be feeling. Consider its meaning; how does it change our view of the play, Harriet’s story, and/or the overarching themes of the play? Also consider it through the lens of Sandra Richards’ article “Writing the Absent Potential.” Do you…
Focusing on the final scene of “Harriet Jacobs” by Lydia R. Diamond, how would you stage Harriet’s final monologue and the stage directions that come after that describe a “rousing, hopeful spiritual” as the play ends. Be very specific about lighting, set, and stage directions. Why have you staged the scene in this way? What…
Consider the two scenes in The Fits that take place in the empty swimming pool when Toni and Maia speak to each other (52:11) and the parade dancing (1:07:11). What is the significance of the empty swimming pool? How might this connect to Beyonce’s performance in the empty swimming pool in her “Formation” music video?
For the last four weeks of the journal assignment, the prompts will be generated by you and your fellow classmates. Each week, half the class will post one prompt, providing everyone (including those who posted a prompt) with a total of five prompts to choose from that week. Everyone will be responsible for posting two…
Although, Sassafrass wasn’t directly described knitting in Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo, I believe my new skill of knitting can relate to Sassafrass’ wall hangings and cloth weaving. This is my moment of ecstatic joy, finishing my first knit scarf. Only two weeks ago, Emma taught my house of roommates how to knit. We all decided…
Due November 28th by 11:59 pm Please email your responses to the below questions to me. You may also choose to post your check ins to the class site as a way of sharing with your classmates. As of now, what is your central question? (Your central question is the question that each of your…
Due November 17th by 11:59 pm Please email your responses to the below questions to me. You may also choose to post your check ins to the class site as a way of sharing with your classmates. As of now, what is your central question? (Your central question is the question that each of your…
As we were examining the line “I knew what I did, and I did it with the deliberate calculation,” (47) from chapter ten in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, I thought about Solange’s music video for “Almeda.” I was hooked onto the line “Nothing without intention. Do nothing without intention,” said by…
Personally, whenever I’ve heard the phrase “Give me liberty or give me death”, my automatic assumption is that the person saying it would much rather receive liberty than die. However, in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, this idea of preference is largely eliminated by the absolutely brutal nature of slavery. Harriet Jacobs,…