August Wilson left as his legacy a ten-play cycle that documents each decade of the 20th century in terms of the African American experience. In his plays Wilson adeptly explores key historical moments in the so-called “American Century.” The course begins with Gem of the Ocean whose setting (1904) depicts the diaspora after the slaves have been set free. The last play in the cycle, Radio Gulf, is set in 1997 and focuses on the new Black middle class. In between we will read his brilliant Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (1920s) and The Piano Lesson (1930s), in addition to the other plays in the cycle. The centerpiece of the course will be the theme of permanence and change in African American life and culture.

Please Note: Fall 2020 Course Registration Opens Online on Monday, August 10th at 8AM (AZ Time)

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• All Fall 2020 courses will be ONLINE ONLY.
• Courses will be delivered online via the Zoom video conferencing platform. All courses will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.
• All class sessions will be recorded and made available to enrolled students for a limited time to assist those who may not be able to attend the live class times.
• The Humanities Seminars Program reserves the right to cancel any seminar that fails to meet registration minimums. If a course is canceled all students enrolled in the canceled course will receive a full refund.