THEA362

Charts African-American theatre from minstrelsy to contemporary performance. Investigates the relationship between African-American theatre and the American socio-political landscape: How does theatre both reflect and shape its time period? How is African-American theatre influenced by or a reaction against theatre created by White artists? Examines texts to explore some questions about the nature and purpose of theatre: How have various African-American artists opened up new terrain both socially and aesthetically? Is theatre a form of entertainment or social protest or ritual? In addition, looks at the kinds of relationships explored in the plays: What types of racial or ethnic relationships are depicted? What about gender, sexual orientation, and class? Finally, examines the role of the African-American artist: How does one define what African-American theatre is?