In this paper, I will show how Agbabi’s poetry challenges traditional dichotomies, such as black/white, male/female, and traditional/contemporary by blurring the lines between them and emphasising the interconnectedness of not only the opposing ends, but also of the different continuums. To pursue this, in the following chapter I will establish a theoretical framework on intersectionality and Black feminism, that helps to conceptualise the interconnectedness of the aspects. Subsequently, chapter 3 contains the main analysis. At the beginning of that chapter, I will first give a few more relevant information on the author and then account for how I came to the specific binaries mentioned before. Based on this, the close readings will then follow in sub-chapters structured after the three main categories. Finally, I will draw a conclusion that puts the pieces back together.
‘Not everything is black and white.’ This proverb encapsulates the essence of Patience Agbabi’s poetry, particularly evident in her collection Bloodshot Monochrome. Agbabi is a British poet, performer, and writer that has recently gained more attention. Her approach to poetry is innovative and dynamic, often challenging limits of traditional forms and tackling sensitive topics ranging from racial issues to gender norms. Especially interesting is how many of these issues can be put into binary categories that Agbabi often addresses implicitly, occasionally even explicitly. Not only does she make use of such dichotomies, but she also disrupts conventional societal perceptions and encourages her reader to question them. In her works, she often brings up not only one category, race for instance, but several at the same time, covering a vast range of matters. By that, she illuminates the interconnectedness of them, showing how someone’s race should not and cannot be regarded isolated from gender or sexuality or other aspects that are part of identity.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theoretical Framework: Intersectionality and Black Feminism
- Analysis and Close Readings
- Relevant Background on Patience Agbabi
- Bloodshot Monochrome
- The Black/White-Dichotomy
- The Male/Female-Dichotomy
- The Traditional/Contemporary-Dichotomy
- Conclusion
- Works Cited
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the poetry of Patience Agbabi, specifically focusing on her collection, Bloodshot Monochrome. The objective is to demonstrate how Agbabi's poetry challenges traditional dichotomies, including race, gender, and time, by highlighting the interconnectedness of these aspects and blurring the lines between them.
- Intersectionality and Black feminism
- Challenging traditional dichotomies
- The interconnectedness of identities
- Exploring the complexities of black identity, feminism, and queerness
- Analysis of specific poems and themes
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the context of Agbabi's poetry and its focus on challenging dichotomies. It outlines the paper's structure, highlighting the importance of intersectionality and Black feminism as theoretical frameworks.
Chapter 2 delves into the theoretical framework of intersectionality and Black feminism, exploring their relevance to Agbabi's work. It discusses the overlapping systems of oppression faced by Black women and the importance of considering race, gender, and class in feminist analysis.
Chapter 3, the main analysis, begins by providing background information on Patience Agbabi and explaining the specific binaries chosen for analysis. This chapter then delves into close readings of poems, divided into sub-chapters based on the three main categories: the black/white, male/female, and traditional/contemporary dichotomies.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the paper are: Patience Agbabi, Bloodshot Monochrome, intersectionality, Black feminism, race, gender, class, traditional dichotomies, black identity, feminism, queerness, and the interconnectedness of identities.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2024, Exploring Identities. Challenging Dichotomies in Chosen Poems from Patience Agbabi’s "Bloodshot Monochrome" (2008), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1498900
