A Seat at Our Table – Confluence

Editor’s Note, A Seat at Our Table

by Shatima JonesPosted on February 20, 2021March 30, 2023

Writing and research from Shatima Jones's interdisciplinary seminars, “(De)Tangling the Business of Black Women’s Hair” and “Black Experiences in Literature, Movies, and Television,” published in honor of Black History Month, 2021.

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearchA Seat at Our Table activism beauty blackness film gender hair identity media music pop culture race representation television

Blackness on Film: Tropes, Trauma, and Resistance

by Shatima JonesPosted on February 20, 2021August 23, 2023

The fourth installment of "A Seat at Our Table," featuring “Breaking the Stigma: Black Mental Health Narratives in Film” by Andrea Maia, “Black Trauma and Resistance in Film: A Characterization of Police Brutality” by Cecilia Innis, “The Magical Negro Trope in Literature and Film” by Sydney Cusic, “Black Women and Liberation in Blaxploitation Films” by Louis Tambue, and “Portrayals of Black Masculinity in ‘Paid in Full’” by Michael Flom.

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch20th century 21st century A Seat at Our Table film pop culture race representation

Breaking the Stigma

by Andrea MaiaPosted on February 20, 2021

On Black mental health narratives in film

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearchA Seat at Our Table blackness disability film gender health masculinity mental health race representation

Black Trauma and Resistance in Film

by Cecilia InnisPosted on February 20, 2021

A Characterization of Police Violence in "Queen and Slim" and "The Hate You Give"

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearchA Seat at Our Table blackness film gender police brutality race

The Magical Negro Trope in Literature and Film

by Sydney CusicPosted on February 20, 2021

An analysis of "Uncle Tom’s Cabin," "The Green Mile," and "Ghost"

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch19th century 20th century A Seat at Our Table drama film literature race representation

Black Women and Liberation in Blaxploitation Films

by Louis TambuePosted on February 20, 2021

The genre changed the landscape of Black women in film, but were Blaxploitation's leading women truly liberated?

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch20th century A Seat at Our Table film gender representation

Portrayals of Black Masculinity in Paid in Full

by Michael FlomPosted on February 20, 2021

How do the film's varying portrayals of Black masculinity fuel the idolization of each of the three main characters?

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch21st century A Seat at Our Table film gender hip hop masculinity music New York City representation

Black Aesthetics and Activism

by Shatima JonesPosted on February 14, 2021August 23, 2023

The thirds installment of "A Seat at Our Table," featuring “Fashion Activism: The Politics of Dress During the Civil Rights Movement” by Taylor Haynes, “Aretha Franklin's R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ability Politics: Hair, Music, and Activism” by Kayla Perez, “Redefining "Femininty": How Black, Queer Women Musicians Subvert Expectations of Womanhood” by Nina Ahmadi, and “Hip-Hop, Black Masculinity, and Sexuality--Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator” by Sean Salmons.

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch20th century 21st century A Seat at Our Table activism aesthetics beauty black history fashion gender music pop culture representation

Fashion Activism

by Taylor HaynesPosted on February 14, 2021February 12, 2021

The Politics of Dress During the Civil Rights Movement

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch20th century A Seat at Our Table activism black history civil rights fashion race representation united states history

Aretha Franklin’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ability Politics

by Kayla PerezPosted on February 14, 2021February 12, 2021

Hair, Music, and Activism

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch20th century A Seat at Our Table fashion music race united states history

Redefining Femininity

by Nina AhmadiPosted on February 14, 2021February 12, 2021

How Janelle Monáe and Syd of The Internet subvert expectations of Black, queer womanhood

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch21st century A Seat at Our Table blackness gender lgbtq music pop culture race representation sexuality

Flower Boy

by Sean SalmonsPosted on February 14, 2021February 12, 2021

How Tyler the Creator and Frank Ocean challenge contemporary conceptualizations of Black queer men in hip-hop.

Interdisciplinary SeminarResearch21st century A Seat at Our Table gender hip hop lgbtq masculinity music sexuality

Gazes on Black Hair and Beauty

by Shatima JonesPosted on February 7, 2021February 5, 2021

The second installment of "A Seat at Our Table," featuring “Modeling Race” by Netanya Ronn, “Redefining Black Beauty” by Tatyana Tandanpolie, “Blackness and Colorism in Kenya Barris’s Productions” by Britney Agyen, “Pelo Bueno/Pelo Malo” by Melany Canela, and “White Parents, Black Hair" by Rachel Goulston.