RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
Podcasted process pieces from my course Black Existentialism. The course introduces one of the most important and potent mid-century intellectual movements - the existentialist movement - through a series of black Atlantic thinkers. Our keystone will be Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks, which is arguably the most important work of Black existentialism from this period. Across the semester we will see why existentialism, with its focus on the ambiguities and ambivalences of lived-experience, had such a deep impact on Black thinkers across the diaspora. We will see these existentialist insights register in literature, philosophy, and film. Old and new.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Black existentialism • Race, identity, and masculinity • Antiblackness and racism • Literature, film, and philosophy • Cultural and social critique • Diaspora and historical contextThis podcast, titled "Black Existentialism," delves into the intersection of existentialist thought and Black Atlantic intellectuals. It uses Frantz Fanon's seminal work, "Black Skin, White Masks," as a keystone text to explore the existential movement's profound impact on Black thinkers. The episodes investigate themes such as race, identity, and liberation through the lens of influential texts and films, often referencing works by Frantz Fanon, Richard Wright, and Ralph Ellison, among others. The podcast discusses existential concerns like the nature of identity, the significance of language, and the influence of historical and sociological constructs on lived experiences.
Central themes include the interplay of race and masculinity, the sociopolitical implications of violence and visibility, and cultural expressions as sites of resistance. The discussions often explore the existential dimensions of Black life in an antiblack world and consider the possibilities of transformation and liberation. By engaging with literature, philosophy, and film, the podcast reflects on how existentialist ideas of freedom and responsibility apply within the context of Black resistance against systemic oppression.
Touching upon historical and cultural contexts, the episodes examine the philosophical grounds of identity formation, the potential for revolution, and the struggle against colonially imposed narratives. Overall, the podcast aims to articulate a distinct philosophical trajectory shaped by Black existential experience, challenging listeners to understand the complexities of Black identity and existential thought in a historical and modern-day context. Through its episodes, this podcast offers a profound exploration of existentialism's relevance and adaptation within Black cultural and intellectual discourse.
