Black Male: Representations of Masculinity in Contemporary American Art

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant book on art and the black man!
Review: This collection of essays may have come from a particular exhibit or conference. It is a book that discusses black men's status as objects of art. Don't sleep! The art world is racist. Coco Fusco and bell hooks have effectively documented this. So this anthology is a very needed intervention. Articles cover topics such as gay black men in movies, the visual representation of gangsta rap, Mapplethorpe, etc. The contributors analyze numerous art mediums, not just painting or film. What I love about this book is how straight black men and gay black men are treated equally; a discussion of one does not marginalize the other. I especially love the article "The Gangsta and the Diva." This book is incredible!