She was still a graduate student when we first met, but already, I knew, everyone knew that here was an emergent scholar who would be contributing to and advancing the critical discourse on African American poetry. Her book Pitfalls of Prestige doesn't disappoint. All kinds of useful and fascinating ideas here.
Vrana's main argument is that "literary establishment institutions of prize-granting, academic, and publishing create particular obstacles for Black women, as they construct a version of the visible, metonymic Black female poet useful for their aims and circulate it through rehearing its terms time and again to conjure what has become the predominant discourse for analyzing contemporary African American women's poetics" (5).
Vrana points out that "This archetypal formation or constructed Black woman figure is primarily known as a poet, though she typically for income works in academia, wherein she was educated and attained (if she was not raised with) the privileges of the Black professional elite; she creates and innovates only within preapproved boundaries."
Vrana considers "this figure's successes and struggles" by examining the works and careers of several poets: Rita Dove, Natasha Trethewey, Tracy K. Smith, Harryette Mullen, Evie Shockley, Elizabeth Alexander, Patricia Smith, Sharon Bridgforth, Mendi Obadike, Duriel Harris, Harmony Holiday, Claudia Rankine, M. NourbeSe Philip, Brenda Marie Osbey, Robin Coste Lewis, and Patricia Smith.
I spent many years studying and collecting information about African American poetry, including the increased award-winning that has taken place in the 21st century. So I'm immediately drawn to what Vrana is covering and uncovering here.
I'm looking forward to finishing up her book and then blogging about what I've learned.
Related:
No comments:
Post a Comment