Performing Race

HUAS-6394-06A
A theoretical and practical course offered by
University of Texas’ School Arts & Humanities
T/H 9:00-1:00pm Summer Semester 2004

Dr. Venus Opal Reese

Office: JO3.514, (0) 972.883.2013 opal@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: t/h 1:15-2:15pm or by appointment

How does one perform one’s race? Can someone “be” more, black, Asian, white,
Latino—more whatever than a body born into that particular population? What happens
when one is biracial—how does one perform one’s bi-racial-ness? What is the
difference between racism, racialism, and appropriation? Since 9/11, how has racial
profiling moved from the usual suspects to a broader “brown” or rather, a non-white
appearing population? Does my race make me who I am? How would I know myself, or
others, without race? What is the history of race and how did it become a tool for
community, pride, oppression, and annihilation? How do I, through race, perform me?

This course is an exploration of race through theory and media. White supremacy, anti-
Semitism, Apartheid, appropriations of “blackness” and the performance of cultural
politics will be explored and deconstructed—both theoretically, visually, and personally.
Utilizing history, theory, and personal narrative, each student will have the opportunity to
create a theoretically based multimedia piece, by converging theory with images, text,
and technology. Part theory, part practice, Performing Race is an extraordinary
opportunity to explore, express, and expand one of the most provocative and
problematic constructs in the history of humanity.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Fredrickson, George M. Racism: a Short History.

Johnson, Patrick E. Appropriating Blackness: Performance and the Politics of
Authenticity.
Williams, Patricia J. The Alchemy of Race and Rights: Diary of a Law Professor.

SUGGESTED READINGS:
Butler, Judith. Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity.
Diamond, Elin. Ed. Performance and Cultural Politics.
Lee, Josephine. Ed. Performing Asian American: Race and Ethnicity on the
Contemporary Stage.

TECHNOLOGICAL TRAINNING
This class is open and welcomes students with all levels of technological training.
Students will be taught how to use Photo Shop and Final Cut Pro 4 software for
photo/image editing and movie making. Students will have “lab” day every Thursday,
which is dedicated to working on your final project.
Grading will be based on the following:
Attendance, Punctuality, and Participation: (15%) The student’s final grade will be
lowered by 2/3 letter grade for each unexcused absence. To receive an excused
absence, a doctor’s note is required immediately upon the student’s return to class. If
you are late twice, that equals one unexcused absences and shall be reflected in your
final grade. Students are graded on participation in class discussions, preparation, and
in-class activities. The student’s ability to take direction, correction, willingness to readily
participate, and work as part of a team will be measured and graded by the instructor.

Theoretical Briefs/Weekly Showings: (15%) Each Tuesday, the student will submit a
one-page brief that summarizes the reading for that week as well as how that reading
supports the student’s final project. Each Thursday, the student will show the
progressive stages of her/his project to the professor for feedback and guidance.

Process/Theoretical Log: (20%) Students are required to keep a process log. The log
must have an entry from each class addressing the work covered during that class
period as well as entries addressing what the student has learned, notes,
breakthroughs, approach, and methodology. The log is your roadmap through this
course to the final project. It must be clearly organized and methodic. The log entries
shall be typed up and submitted one week before the final presentation. The log can
include creative writing, scholarly writing, and/or technical writing that supplements and
enhances the student’s final project presentation.

Final Project: (50%) The students shall create a 3-10 minute multimedia project based
on the theoretical material covered in class as well as personal perspective. Each
student will create a piece of digital art in which the student constructs race from
images, movie clips, digital photos, sound, and or original film footage shot during the
span of the course.

STUDENTS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING THE NECESSARY OUT OF

CLASS WORK TO CREATE A COMPLETED FINISHED PRODUCT THAT THEY
ARE PROUD OF. THERE WILL BE LAB HOURS POSTED SO THE STUDENTS
CAN WORK ON FINAL PROJECTS.

Digital Equipment: Students may use UTD camcorders to collect footage. The student
is responsible for all equipment use and if it is broken, the student is liable. Feel free to
use your own equipment, digital cameras, camcorders, etc.

Disabilities Statement: If you would like to request academic accommodations due to

a disability, please contact Disability Services, which is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday
and Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The Disability
Services email is: http://www.utdallas.edu/stidemt/slife/jcsvc.html.

Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty is subject to severe penalty up to and

including expulsion. As you are working on your papers, please be conscientious about
carefully recording your citations and maintaining a solid separation between your voice

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and that of source materials. Please read the following webpage so that you do not
accidentally cheat in any form:
http://www.utdallas.edu.student/slife/scholastic.html.

Incomplete Grade: A grade of Incomplete may be given, at the discretion of the

instructor of record for a course, when a student has completed at least 70% of the
required course material but cannot complete all requirements by the end of the
semester. An incomplete course grade (grade of X) must be completed within the time
period specified by the instructor, not to exceed eight weeks from the first day of the
subsequent long semester. Please see the following web address for more detailed
information:
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/undergrad03/progress.html#Grading%20Scale.

ONE FINAL NOTE: It is an honor to know you and to learn with you. Thank you for
being in this course, learning together, expanding what’s possible through your genius
and generosity of spirit. It’s going to be an extraordinary semester.

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 Schedule
Reading Assignments (RA) are due on the date specified.
The following is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Week #1: Beginnings

05/18 T Getting an Understanding/Course Overview/Racial Difference?
05/20 H Lab I: Instruction

Week #2: Racism/Gathering Evidence

05/25 T RA: Racism/ Biological Racism
05/27 H Lab II: Instruction/Gather Images
Assignment: Race text advertisement

Week #3: Racism/Racialism/Personal Storyline

06/01 T RA: Racism/ “Racialism” (handout)
06/03 H Lab III: Instruction/Story Board Draft
Assignment: Race CD Cover w/ Image and text

Week #4: Bodies Raced/Image that reveal Character

06/08 T RA: The Alchemy of Race and Rights/Race and Law
06/10 H Lab IV: Instruction/Sort Images & create
Assignment: Racial Profiling then & now Magazine Cover

Week #5: Appropriation/Constructing Race

06/15 T RA: The Alchemy of Race and Rights and Appropriating Blackness
06/17 H Lab V: Instruction/Construct “raced” character(s)
Assignment: Race Interview w/ still photos and text

Week #6: Authenticity/Performing Race

06/22 T RA: Appropriating Blackness
06/24 H Final showing—guest welcomed