Routledge - The Black Female Body in American Literature and Art

This scholarly work from Routledge examines how African-American writers and visual artists use icon and inscription to re-present the black female body. For too long, Western visual and discursive systems have rendered the black female body as alien or inarticulate. This book addresses that history by exploring the connection between literature and contemporary art. Readers will see how the writings of authors like Toni Morrison, Gayl Jones, and Edwidge Danticat connect to the work of postmodern visual artists such as Lorna Simpson, Kara Walker, and Faith Ringgold. By looking at these different mediums together, the text provides a deep look into how identity is performed and reclaimed through both words and images. It is a vital resource for students and researchers interested in the intersection of African-American studies, art history, and literary criticism.