This week’s readings address critical and contemporary issues in relation to race and space, primarily in Global North cities where Black persons have been subject to harmful responses to both occupying space, as in a restaurant, and in protest. The trial in “Mangrove” was significant because it was the first case in England to recognize racially different treatment. Given the theories of popular culture presented earlier in the semester, consider the following questions in an essay that refers to at least 4 of your materials in the last two weeks:
Do you consider Black Lives Matter as representative of popular culture? Regardless of your perspective, what role has social media played in the increased awareness of Black Lives Matters and the issues they have brought to the forefront?
Amazon prime, a corporate entity, that has been criticized for its poor treatment of employees (see https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/technology/amazon-racial-inequality.html). The series “Small Axe” including the film, “Small Axe” was produced by Amazon. Do you consider these series or the film an example of popular culture? Address why the series release occurred in the last few months and its relation to contemporary protests and issues around race and policing of them.
Finally respond to the Frankfurt’s School basic critique of popular culture as problematic in relation to how protest, race, and policing has become a topical issue. The Frankfurt School perspective is seeing a re-emergence with the political upheaval over the last few years. Given your reading thus far in the semester, why do you think that is? Take some time to think about it and share your reflection.
I am not providing an outline for this paper, feel free to address these questions in essayistic form meaning that it does not necessitate an introduction of material and a thesis statement but reads as a reflection in relation to current issues and in reference to previous texts (your readings) of similar issues. Page number, font, remain the same.
Here are examples of essays of well-known author Zadie Smith, https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/zadie-smith
Other Sources Given:
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/the-unbearable-whiteness-of-storming-the-capitol
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/07/954324564/comparing-police-responses-to-pro-trump-mob-racial-justice-protests
https://www.blackpast.org/?s=mangrove%20nine
Related Completed Projects
Explore the concepts of freedom, power, equality, justice, and/ or civic life, and their evolution, in the context of the US.
apply course concepts we have explored so far to a particular business of your choosing.
Discuss culture appropriation and colonialism.
Describe the issues and a possible solution in a 3Perhaps the most basic and important subject in the he