THE BLACK AESTHETIC AND BEYOND

John Fredrick Humphrey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Department of Philosophy
Xavier University of Louisiana
P.O. Box 43 A
7325 Palmetto Street
New Orleans, LA 70125
jhumphre@mail.xula.edu

Ms. Melissa Evans
2316 Pasadena Avenue, Apt. 105
Metairie, LA 70001
maevans@mail.xula.edu

Todd Stanislav, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching
Xavier University of Louisiana
7325 Palmetto Street
New Orleans, LA 70125
tstanisl@mail.xula.edu

Abstract:

Funded by a Bush-Hewlett Grant made to the Xavier University of Louisiana, Center for the Advancement of Teaching, our learning community began meeting in the fall semester (1998). Our project involves interdisciplinary, collaborative faculty and student research on the topic of ‘The Black Aesthetic And Beyond.’ Our learning community includes two faculty members and four students drawn from the disciplines of African American Studies, English, and Philosophy. We are researching questions of cultural identity and subjectivity at the intersection of literature, literary theory, philosophy, history, art, and cultural studies, beginning with ‘The Black Aesthetic’ theory of the 1960s and followed by various and subsequent theoretical and scholarly treatments of the topic. A recent publication by Richard J. Powell, Chairman of the Department of Art and Art History at Duke University, has provided a starting point for understanding the topic and determined the context within which our discussion is being carried out. Faculty and students have begun by reading and discussing Powell’s Black Art and Culture in the 20th Century (1997) in anticipation of his speaking engagement at Xavier University during the fall, 1998, semester. Once the group has completed discussing Powell’s book, we will turn to further readings from our bibliography comprised of pieces selected by each student and faculty participant. Additionally, we are taking advantage of films, speakers, and guest artists as the occasions arise during the 1998-99 academic year. It is our intention that our readings and discussions will stimulate and inform written work, further research, our teaching, and our learning.

Our presentation will be a roundtable discussion of ‘The Black Aesthetic And Beyond’; both student and faculty members of our learning community will be involved. We will begin with a brief description of our project, including a discussion of the objectives, the implementation, and the assessment of the project. Then, we will turn our attention to our theme. Since Xavier University is an HBCU (historically black college / university), our theme is especially important. Our learning community allows our students to explore a topic that is not found in the curriculum. Our learning community also affords both black and white participants a context in which we can explore aesthetic responses to a history of exclusion. Our presentation will allow time for group discussion; audience participation will be encouraged.

Biographical Statement:

Ms. Melissa Evans is a senior at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is in the Xavier University Department of Biology and is majoring in Biology (Pre-Med).

John F. Humphrey is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Xavier University of Louisiana. He has been teaching in the Xavier University Department of Philosophy for the past five years, where he teaches Great Books, Business Ethics, and the History of Philosophy sequence.

Todd Stanislav is an Associate Professor of Biology at Xavier University of Louisiana. He is currently teaching in the Xavier University, Department of Biology. He is also the director of the Xavier University Center for the Advancement of Teaching.