I am teaching a class in the Spring 2010 that looks at Representations of African American Male Masculinity and Sexuality in Cinema. Students will critique independent cultural productions which reflect both changes and similarities for films every 20 years, starting with 1970, 1990 and now 2010.

The class will be comprised of three components:

1). During the first four weeks of the semester, we will discuss and analyze African American male images of masculinity and sexuality in the films from the Blaxploitation era (1970's). Particularly those made by African Americans. The discussion will emphasize the work of independent African American cultural producers.

2). During the next three weeks, we discuss and analyze African American male images of masculinity and sexuality in the films from what I'm calling the Blaxposure era (1990's). Particularly those made by African Americans. The discussion will emphasize the work of independent African American cultural producers.

3). During the next five weeks, students will collect videotaped oral histories from African American males in the community, that address their ideas of masculinity and sexuality in the era of President Barack Obama. The students will thus become the cultural producers for 2010. Students will upload the clips to the Treasury of Family Heritage (that they will develop), which can support video, audio, text and photos.