Building an African-American Literary Canon: Aesthetic and Political Perspectives

The seminar is introduced with a speech by a senior lecturer named Yanuka from University R Nori, who will discuss African-American cultural magazines and anthologies. The focus is on how these publications influence the formation of the African-American literary canon, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement.

Yanuka elaborates on his research involving 10 magazines and 56 anthologies from key cultural movements. He mentions the different publication styles and the importance of magazines in the canon formation process. He explains that magazines often publish works that are later included in anthologies, affecting canonization.

He highlights the social and political roles of these magazines and anthologies in shaping the African-American literary tradition. There is a focus on how editorial decisions and the choice of publications reflect a political agenda. Literary works' inclusion in magazines and anthologies helped shape collective identity as well as a marketable African-American identity.

The political nature of African-American literature is emphasized, alongside the tendency for works to be selected for their educational value and fitting political narratives. During the 1960s, there was a rise in literary anthologies driven by the creation of Black Studies departments at universities, impacting how literature was published and perceived.

The issues of literary exploration and political expression are discussed using examples of poems that blurred linguistic and thematic boundaries. However, these works often faced challenges in recognition due to not fitting traditional or educational molds, highlighting tensions in canon formation.

Yanuka analyzes how the formats of magazines, miscellanies, and anthologies contribute to canonization, where magazines focus on local talents and anthologies seek a national scope. Different formats affect publication practices and influence what is considered part of the literary canon.

He examines editorial decisions regarding the inclusion of authors, noting biases and the challenge of intersectionality in developing a canonical body. Works by women and underrepresented groups faced systemic biases despite potential literary merit.

The role of individual judgment and broader trends in canon formation are considered, showing that reprints in anthologies shift literary consensus. A significant observation is how many works remain unrevised and dormant, suggesting richer, untapped potential beyond established canons.