PGHT
5772

Black Visuality in the Digital Age

Parsons School of Design: Sch. Art and Dsgn Hist and Th

Liberal Arts
Graduate Course
Degree Students
Black Visuality in Digital Age
Spring 2026
Taught By: Jonathan Square
Section: A

CRN: 16977

Credits: 3

Black Visuality in the Digital Age examines how vision functions as a key site for constructing, policing, and reimagining Black identity in contemporary digital culture. While diasporic expression has long engaged the tactile and the sonic, this course argues that the visual dominates the digital era, shaping how Blackness is seen, circulated, and contested online. Students will explore topics such as digital blackface, black Twitter, algorithmic bias, memes and mimetic communication, and the visual albums of Beyoncé and Solange. Readings by André L. Brock, Simone Browne, and Elizabeth Alexander will ground class discussions in critical frameworks that illuminate how Black creators, communities, and audiences negotiate visibility and power across digital platforms.

Open to: All university graduate degree students. Some seats are reserved for MA History of Design and Curatorial Studies students.
Co-Requisites: No Co-requisites

College: Parsons School of Design (PS)

Department: Sch. Art and Dsgn Hist and Th (ADHT)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 15

Repeat Limit: 2

Add/Drop Deadline: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 14, 2026 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: Yes

* Seats available but reserved for a specific population.

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 4:34pm EDT 10/17/2025

Meeting Info:
Days: Wednesday
Times: 4:00pm - 6:40pm
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 1/21/2026 - 5/15/2026