European University Institute Library

Africa in the American imagination, popular culture, racialized identities, and African visual culture, Carol Magee

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-251) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Africa in the American imagination

electronic resource

dictionariesbibliography

777938938

Carol Magee

ACLS Humanities E-Book

popular culture, racialized identities, and African visual culture

In the American world, the presence of African culture is sometimes fully embodied and sometimes leaves only a trace. Explores this presence, examining Mattel's world of Barbie, the 1996 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and Disney World, each of which repackages African visual culture for consumers. Because these cultural icons permeate American life, they represent the broader U.S. culture and its relationship to African culture. This study integrates approaches from art history and visual culture studies with those from culture, race, and popular culture studies to analyze this interchange. Two major threads weave throughout. One analyzes how the presentation of African visual culture in these popular culture forms conceptualizes Africa for the American public. The other investigates the way the uses of African visual culture focuses America's own self-awareness, particularly around black and white racialized identities. From publisher description.--, Provided by publisher

Introduction : popular culture, racialized identities, and African visual culture -- Race-ing fantasy : the Sports illustrated swimsuit issue in South Africa -- "It's sort of like National geographic meets Sports illustrated" -- Fashioning identities : Kente, nostalgia, and the world of Barbie -- It's a small, white world -- Africa in Florida : Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge -- Refrain : Africa in the American imagination