400 afrofuturism schedule 2021

1. English 400: Afrofuturism Schedule
Prof. Janis (Jan) Johnson
Tuesday/Thursday - 9:30-10:45
Note that this schedule may change due to the pace of the course and that you will be notified in advance of
any changes either in class or via email.
Week/Dates Topics, Activities, & Key Questions Required Readings & Assignments
Week 1
Tues. August 24 Welcome & Introductions:
• What is Afrofuturism? Defining terms.
• What opportunities and challenges does it
pose as a concept?
• How is it connected to the centuries-long
struggle for Black freedom?
• How can Afrofuturism potentially mend
the world?
Thurs.
August 26
Theorizing Afrofuturism
Lisa Yaszek, “Afrofuturism, Science
Fiction and the history of the Future”
PDF
Week 2
Tues. August 31
Literary Explorations
From Dark Matter:
“Introduction: Looking for the
Invisible” pp. ix-xiv
“Black to the Future,” Walter Mosley
pp. 405-407;
“Yet I Do Wonder, Paul D. Miller,
aka DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kidd
pp. 408-414;
“The Monophobic Response,”
Octavia E. Butler pp. 415-416
Thurs.
September 2 From Dark Matter:
“The Goophered Grapevine,”
Charles W. Chesnutt (1887) pp. 158-
170
“The Comet,” W.E.B. Dubois (1920)
pp 5-18
Week 3
Tues.
September 7
Begin Viewing: The World, the Flesh
and the Devil (1959) (95 min.)

2. Thurs.
September 9
Conclude viewing The World, the
Flesh and the Devil
Assign Close Reading/Analysis Essay
Week 4
Tues.
September 14
From Dark Matter:
excerpt from novel Black No More,
George S. Schuyler;
“Aye, and Gomorrah. . . ,” Samuel
Delaney;
“The Evening, the Morning and the
Night,” Octavia E. Butler;
“Future Christmas” (Excerpt from the
novel The Terrible Twos), Ishmael
Reed
Thurs.
September 16
From Dark Matter:
“Sister Lilith,” Honorée Fanonne
Jeffers;
“Can You Wear My Eyes,” Kalamu
ya Salaam;
“Like Daughter,” Tananarive Due;
“Separation Anxiety,” Evie Shockley;
“Ganger (Ball Lightening),” Nalo
Hopkinson
Literary Close Reading and Response
Paper Due Sunday, 9/19 by midnight
on Bblearn
Week 5
Tues. Sept. 21
Music & Afrofuturism See BBlearn for schedule for
readings
American Jazz:
Sun Ra
Thurs. Sept. 23
Jamaican Afrofuturism:
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Week 6
Tues.
September 28
George Clinton, Parliament
Funkadelic and the Mothership
Assign Video Essay (due 10/10)
Thurs.
September 30
Grace Jones and LaBelle

3. Week 7
Tues. October
4
Janelle Monaé
Thurs. October
7
Janelle Monaé, et al
Video Essay on Afrofuturist music
due Sunday, October 10th
by midnight
on Bblearn
Week 8
Tues. October
12
Afrofuturism & Film
tbd
Angel of History
Sankofa
Thurs. October
14
(midterm grades due 10/18)
tbd
Week 9
Tues. October
19
tbd
Thurs. October
21 NO CLASS
Week 10
Tues. October
26
tbd
Thurs. October
28
tbd
Week 11
Tues.
November 2
tbd
Thurs.
November 4
tbd
Final Project Proposal and
Bibliography Due on Sunday
November 7th
by midnight on Bblearn
Week 12
Tues.
November 9
tbd
Thurs.
November 11
tbd
Week 13 tbd

4. Tues.
November 16
Thurs.
November 18
_____________
11/22-26
________________________________________
NO CLASS. Enjoy your Fall
Break/Thanksgiving!
tbd
______________________________
Week 14
Tues.
November 30
Final Project Presentations
Thurs.
December 2 Presentations
Week 15
Tues.
December 7 Presentations
Thurs.
December 9 Presentations
Week 16 Final projects due Monday,
December 13th at noon