Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary American Art

by Thelma Golden, Jean-Michel Basquiat

The popular image of African-American men has gone through several transformations since the rise of the Black Power movement in the late 1960s. This book, which is the catalogue of an exhibition that opened at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, in November 1994, chronicles these changing perceptions of African-American masculinity as interpreted in painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed-media work, as well as in film and video. More than 70 works have been selected, by 29 leading artists of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hammons, Robert Mapplethorpe, Adrian Piper, Andres Serrano, and Lorna Simpson, among others, explore such issues as personal identity, sexuality, and social history. The catalogue includes six essays by leading voices in African-American art criticism and cultural Elizabeth Alexander bell hooks, Isaac Julien and Kobena Mercer, Tricia Rose, Andrew Ross, and Greg Tate. The film and video section is the work of five scholars in African-American studies. Herman Gray, Ed Guerrero, Philip Brian Harper, Valerie Smith, and Clyde Taylor each curated a film and video programme, and their essays examine critical and theoretical points of view concerning mainstream and independent film and video as well as commercial television. Essays by Thelma Golden and John G. Hanhardt present overviews of the problems and challenges confronted by representations of black masculinity in the various forms of artisitc expression.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Thelma Golden is director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Reviews

[Roberto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and illuminating book to read. I have always noticed the lack of representation of minorities in the arts, worse yet, the overly stereotypical and racist representations and exploitation of such, Hollywood being the main culprit. The essays are intelligent and well structured, although a bit academic; however, it's imperative to learn the lexicon in order to identify, understand and talk about the issues. I like the way the artwork is discussed as it gives it a historical background drawing parallels between events and the artist's response. At times I had to put the book down and reflect on the horrible violence that black Americans and communities of color have to endure and still do to this day, as a minority myself and as an artist, I'm left to question how all this inequality and institutionalized racism, police brutality, incarceration, unemployment, nationalism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, violence, and fear affects my life and informs my work.
While this book is but a light introduction to a whole horde of issues and subjects to explore, it does a good job in stimulating critical thinking and self-reflection. I highly recommend it, specially to fellow artist, students, and anybody whose privilege enables them to boast the misguided idea that racism ended once Obama was inaugurated our first black president.

[Anika Joseph-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, very thorough analysis of archetypes.

[Gage Wente · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, with a few standout essays, but could've used more (any) non-academic voices.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

English 525: American Literature 1950 to Present - A literary museum. A collection of essays that meticulously examine black masculinity in everything from photos, sculptures, films, drag queens, and rap music.