Date of Award
5-12-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Studio Arts
Advisor(s)
Sarah Mccoubrey
Keywords
Animation;comic studies;Television studies
Subject Categories
African American Studies | Arts and Humanities | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
Abstract
The New Negro Myth explores the ways minstrel entertainment has influenced the creation and building of the animation and comics industry. My practice explores worldbuilding and character creation that pays homage to the aforementioned industries while interrogating already existing narratives. These characters are created with the vestigial minstrel (a character that is reminiscent of the minstrel) and vaudeville acts in mind. I also discuss the theme of the “other”, which plays a big role in limiting black representation as it creates an opposing force to white hegemony. Characters have consequently fallen prey to the “other” and the minstrel tradition, making them vectors of false narratives and signifiers of blackness when they are disseminated to other countries. To challenge these already existing narratives I situate my art through the lens of Afro-futurism which allows for black artists to reimagine Black history by looking towards the future. To help shape this mythology, I borrow from real life people and fictional characters to help with characterization that shows the complicated history of Black fiction.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Blanchard, Jaleel, "The New Negro Myth" (2024). Theses - ALL. 867.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/867
