(Re)membering through Creative Practice
Description of Assignment:
This course includes several significant texts, and students will be tasked with submitting reflection papers on each throughout the semester, for a total of four assignments. While each paper focuses on a specific text or theme, students are highly encouraged to draw connections to other class readings and materials to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the course content and its broader implications. Because this is a writing-intensive course, these reflection papers will also count toward the required page total, fulfilling at least nine of the twenty five pages (double-spaced).
Purpose:
The assignments aim to help students:
Cultivate a robust understanding of Endarkened Feminist Epistemology (EFE) and its alignment with other Black feminist frameworks.
Deepen comprehension of gender as a socially constructed concept, particularly within Western contexts.
Showcase the ability to critically analyze key concepts and themes presented in the primary texts, rather than summarizing the reading
Demonstrate the integration of prior knowledge with new insights, effectively building upon and expanding existing frameworks.
Write/create
(Re)membering through Creative Practice (artistic assignment logistics).*
This is an opportunity to explore your creativity in a format of your choosing. Drawing inspiration from the themes in Walker’s work, reflect on the following questions:
Reflection on Creativity:
What creative element or expression have you been holding back from exploring?
Alternatively, what is the creative space where you feel most alive and thrive?
Themes from Walker’s Work:
For Walker’s mother, creativity flourished in her garden; for Walker herself, it’s through writing. What is the creative medium calling to you?
Have you been neglecting this form of creativity, or is it something you embrace regularly?
What are the other themes from Walker’s work that feel most salient to you?
Guidelines:
There are no prescribed length or format requirements for this assignment. Possible formats include but are not limited to: visual art, movement, writing, music, any other medium that speaks to your creative spirit.
Be intentional in connecting your creative work to the themes and ideas in Walker’s text.
Submit your piece in a way that best represents its form (e.g., file upload, photos of physical art, links to videos).
Include with your submission an artist placard (no more than three sentences), explaining your reason for choosing this art form.
Let this assignment be an opportunity to honor your creativity and engage deeply with the themes of identity, expression, and artistry in Walker’s work.