4-25 Song of Solomon - Prof. Konstantina Zanou PDF

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Prof. Konstantina Zanou...

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4/25/17 “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison Historical Context Toni Morrison       

1931-present (only living author that we have read) Born in Lorain, Ohio (northern Ohio, near Cleveland) o She lived in an integrated neighborhood Second of four children o Father was a welder Went to Howard and Cornell Worked as a professor and senior editor before publishing first book (“Bluest Eye” 1970) First black woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in literature (1993) Writes “Song of Solomon” in order to preserve folk culture

Civil Rights Era 

Emmett Till, Birmingham bombing, Civil Rights Act 1964

Flight In-Class Listening: “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” by Nina Simone o “I wish I could spread my wings” o Mr. Smith’s flight (suicide) from on top of the hospital Escape/Abandonment Mr. Smith- Insurance Agent o Irony: Works for the economy of risk (insurance) but kills himself In-Class Viewing: Toni Morrison Interview   

Her mother’s voice: unique, incomparable Morrison’s favorite myth: enslaved Africans taking up wings and flying back to Africa “How can I write about a young black man who learns to fly?”

Songs    

Foster a sense of community, healing power Pilate: father tells her, “Sing. Sing.” Women usually sing—pass memory o Macon cannot resist listening to Pilate, Reba, and Hagar singing Oral tradition—no books, passes down knowledge of culture and identity

In-Class Viewing: “Romare Bearden: A Black Odyssey” Romare Bearden (1911-1998)  

Born in Charlotte, NC Raised in Harlem, NY

“Odysseus” Series    

First showcased 1977 Manhattan Combines the story of Homer’s “The Odyssey” with images specific to black culture “Purchasing this story as one for Black America,” “Universalizing a particular” The Odyssey is an essential story of humanity that needs to be re-told in different ways so that different people can relate to them

Greek Culture vs Black Culture 

Takes tragic stories and turns them into a farce

Stories   

Bearden liked to tell and hear stories “Liar’s bench”—old men telling stories in the South His art was informed by his love for reading

Method of art  

Masterfully colored Collage- deconstructs the way we see things and puts them back together in a new way

Past, Present, Future  

Characters who are happy in the present are comfortable with the past Names o Identity, humanity o White man choosing his name is dehumanizing o Resistance, reclamation

Next time:  

Biblical Connotations Element of the Epic...