EWL 335 Slavery in the American Imaginary
This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of how Americans have imagined slavery at different points in the nation’s history. We will read first-hand accounts of people who were enslaved, examine paintings depicting historical moments, watch films from different eras, and listen to past and contemporary music. Throughout, we will investigate ways slavery has been and is embedded in the culture of the United States, how it has been imagined and re-imagined by artists, writers, and filmmakers, and how our contemporary society is shifting the discussion. This course usually includes a field trip to the African Burial Ground as well as creative assignments responding to the material studied.