In Search of the Black Fantastic: Richard Iton 1st Printing/VG (see photos:)

by Richard Iton

$43 · Offered by eBay

In Search of the Black Fantastic argues that conventional, institutional politics cannot fully capture or address the complexities of Black life. Richard Iton asserts that because Black Americans were historically excluded from formal political systems, popular culture became their primary arena for political expression, resistance, and community-building. The Limitations of Formal Politics: Formal political gains after the Civil Rights era failed to deliver true emancipation or equality. The "Black Fantastic": This term describes a creative space where Black artists use aesthetics, music, humor, and literature to imagine alternative forms of freedom. Cultural Subversion: Art forms like hip-hop, reggae, and stand-up comedy serve as political critique when official channels remain closed or unresponsive. Disrupting Boundaries: This creative realm actively challenges rigid boundaries surrounding race, gender, sexuality, and national citizenship. Chapter 1: The Modernity of Blackness Examines how blackness is central to modern political thought, arguing that Black cultural expression has always been deeply intertwined with the desire for freedom. Chapter 2: The Sound of Geography Analyzes how music—specifically blues, jazz, and reggae—maps out a global, transnational Black identity that transcends physical borders and nation-states. Chapter 3: Low-Down and Higher Up Explores the tensions between elite Black political leadership and working-class popular culture, highlighting how

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
• Year: 2008
• Binding: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9780195178463
• Condition: Very Good

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