From early photographs of disfigured slaves to contemporary representations of bullet-riddled rappers; images of wounded black men have long permeated American culture. While scholars have fittingly focused on the ever-present figure of the hypermasculine black male; little consideration has been paid to the wounded black man as a persistent cultural figure. This book considers images of wounded black men on various stages; including early photography; contemporary art; hip hop; and new media. Focusing primarily on photographic images; Jackson explores the wound as a specular moment that mediates power relations between seers and the seen. Historically; the representation of wounded black men has privileged the viewer in service of white supremacist thought. At the same time; contemporary artists have deployed the figure to expose and disrupt this very power paradigm. Jackson suggests that the relationship between the viewer and the viewed is not so much static as fluid; and that wounds serve as intricate negotiations of power structures that cannot always be simplified into the condensed narratives of victims and victimizers. Overall; Jackson attempts to address both the ways in which the wound has been exploited to patrol and contain black masculinity; as well as the ways in which twentieth century artists have represented the wound to disrupt its oppressive implications
#1395714 in eBooks 2008-08-19 2008-08-19File Name: B004O0TU8U
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Might have been an Interesting BlogBy S. SokollThis book seems like it started as a blog. with a road trip to significant American music locations. But this is a thin idea for a book. The first 100 dart across Tennessee to Graceland. down US 61 into Mississippi. up to Nashville. and so on. The author derives no real insights from the travel (her comments on Nashville seem focused on the convention business).Slogging on she gets into an extended discusiion/definition of alt country music. The writing is uninspired and offers few insights.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A must read for anyone interested in American music rootsBy Kirk DornbushReading this book this book is the next best thing to taking the road trip yourself. Amanda Petrusichs prose is captivating and transformative. At the books end I was simultaneously left homesick for my beloved south and jonesing for a road trip to Brooklyn!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. It Keeps Moving...By Jason WoodburyFantastic book. Petrusichs voice is clear and engaging. and her travelogue approach makes for a pleasurable and vivid romp through the various ways we define "American Music" and the places it comes from. Petrusichs "Americana" is slippery and hard to pin down. but thats what makes it so much fun to read about and consider.
