ENG 293/393 - Special Topics in African American Literature

What happens when Black artists look to the future-and to alternate worlds-to reimagine history, justice, and identity? This course explores Afrofuturism as both a cultural movement and a way of thinking, blending science fiction, music, visual art, and film with questions of race, power, and possibility. Students will investigate how Afrofuturist works challenge dominant narratives and open up new ways of imagining freedom.

Together, we’ll study novels, short stories, music videos, performances, and visual art, while engaging with critical perspectives that help us think about time, technology, and storytelling in new ways. The course balances theory and creativity: students will analyze works by W.E.B. Du Bois, Samuel Delany, Octavia Butler, Colson Whitehead, Sun Ra, Outkast, Janelle Monáe, Kara Walker, and Marvel’s Black Panther, while also considering how Afrofuturism inspires their own critical and creative responses.

By the end of the course, students will have both a deeper understanding of the Black Speculative Tradition and the opportunity to imagine-and theorize-their own futures. For English majors, this course may satisfy the D-3 or E requirements, but cannot double count.

For English minors, this course can count either as a seminar in Theory or as a 200-level English seminar, but it cannot double count for the two requirements. May be repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Prerequisites: One 100-level English literature course (ENG 100-199) or permission of instructor

Anticipated Terms Offered: Periodically