Blackness, Performance, Freedom
Reflection on Content Describe a few of the connections you see between your different entries? As you reflect on your entries, do you find any contradictions between one entry and another? Or even within one entry? Compare your first entry, your 5th entry, and your last entry. Are their similarities to the types of questions…
In Atlanta‘s episode “B.A.N.”, they show a series of commercials. Which of these commercials stand out to you? Why promote each of these items (ex. Dodge Charger, Swisher Sweets, etc.)? What was their overall goal through these parody commercials and how did it serve the Montague show?
The individual choreography of the various characters’ “fits” suggest that—like puberty—this experience is unique for each female. If you were to portray your own coming-of-age in a short segment (like Toni’s “fits” dance sequence), how would you do it? Which element(s) of your development would you focus on? After reflecting and deciding what to emphasize,…
Recall a time/event in your life in which you went through a transition. This transition can be physical or mental/emotional. Then, try to represent this experience through a creative medium of your choice. You might want to give a brief summary of your transition prior to your artistic take to give the viewer context. After…
How would you describe your experience in recognizing your gender? Does it feel as though the societal culture you live in recognized your gender for you? Then, try to represent this experience in a medium of your choice. In addition, reflect on the creative choices you made and explain why you made them. Additionally, please…
Drawing inspiration from all of the visual media we’ve been viewing over the past two weeks of classes, this prompt asks you to write a 1-2 minute dramatic monologue (about 1-2 pages of double spaced lines) where you detail a moment in your life where you felt successful. It could be like when Toni finally…
The Fits (2015) shows an 11-year-old girl, Toni, as she joins a dance team, the Lionesses. Before she joins and during her early days of being on the team, she spends time with her older brother at the school’s boxing gym. She trains along side him in addition to helping out at the gym by…
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…