"Look Here, Karen": The Politics of Black Digital Resistance to White Femininity

In this course, we will explore the ways in which Black online publics use resistance strategies, such as mimetic imagery and racial humor, to call attention to white femininity and its deployment of the police against African Americans. We will trace the relationship between the police state and white femininity through the historical lens of 'innocence' and protection of the U.S. nation as well as the similarities and differences of Black online publics' responses in relation to past resistance strategies. What does it mean to be a 'typical' Karen in Internet culture? What are the aesthetic boundaries of Karens? And, what do digital platforms afford to Black users who make Karens visible? While paying attention to race, gender and class, this course offers students the skills to be able to collect and analyze online data, such as 'Karen' memes, in order to make critical arguments and observations that are grounded in historical accuracy.
Course Attributes: BU BA; AS HUM; FA HUM; AR HUM; AS SC; EN H

"Look Here, Karen": The Politics of Black Digital Resistance to White Femininity

AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES 3644

Section 01