FRS 001N - Sec. 001 - (1 unit) - CRN 75086 - M 12:10-1:00pm - 25 Wellman

Stitching African-American Culture: African-American Narrative Quilts

Instructor: Patricia A. Turner, Department of African-American & African Studies, College of Letters and Science

Description: This course will use African-American quilts as texts to facilitate student understanding of the ways in which African Americans have used folk art to express aesthetic and cultural values. The course will follow a loose chronological order, beginning with the quilts of 19th century folk artist Harriett Powers and concluding with the quilts of contemporary artists such as EdJohnetta Miller and Carolyn Mazzloomi. This course is intended to satisfy several of the goals outlined in the UC Davis Educational Objectives. See http://undergraduatestudies.ucdavis.edu/wasc/edobjectivesfstudents.pdf In particular, we will focus on student development of communication, collaboration, cognitive, leadership skills.

Format: The seminar will meet one hour each week. Time will be divided between informal lecture presentations and discussion. Students will also listen to/watch audio and video comprised of quilter interviews. The last few weeks will be devoted to student presentations. Reading material will be provided by the instructor. Several texts will be available in Shields Library. Grading: Students will be required to submit very brief “readings” of quilts (1/4). They will also be required to sustain an active, engaged level of informed class participation throughout the entire quarter (1/4), and they will participate a group-prepared final presentation on a single quilt/quilter. They must submit a 1-3 page journal detailing their role in the oral presentation. The combined paper and presentation will total 50% of their grade.

About the Instructor: Professor Patricia A. Turner has a joint appointment in the African and African-American Studies and American Studies programs. She has participated in the making of documentaries and written books on African-American popular culture and folklore. She is currently completing a full length manuscript on African American Quilters.