Blackness in Israeli Culture

Catalog description

This course examines the concept of Blackness within Israeli popular culture and contemporary art. We will explore how Blackness is constructed, represented, and contested in Israeli-Jewish society, considering both its historical roots and evolving meanings. Central questions will include: Who is considered Black in Israel? and How does Blackness in Israel compare to Blackness in the United States? Focusing primarily on two major groups within Jewish society — Mizrahi Jews and Ethiopian Jews — the course will analyze their representation in mainstream Israeli culture, and how these representations are challenged by contemporary non-white artists. A range of visual art forms will be incorporated to deepen our understanding of the cultural narratives at play.