2018/2019

Creative Work: Scholar Presenter & Presentation/Writing Coach

Scholarly Equivalency - Book

Hart's Contribution as a Scholar Presenter & Presentation/Writing Coach

Blackademics TV is a unique opportunity for me to utilize my expertise as a researcher, writer and my knowledge of public-focused dramaturgy. Public-focused dramaturgical efforts function to contextualize and offer frameworks for interpretation, critique and analysis.

This was my sixth year working on the series as a scholarly writing/presentation coach. Serving as a scholar coach for consecutive years helps create a consistent high quality aesthetic and brand for the series. This kind of consistency and attention to excellence produces a series that has both artistic and commercial merit.

The focus of the series is to offer scholarship to local, national and global communities through live studio participation, the internet and television. The finished product reaches approximately 3 million television viewers and airs in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and Florida. The series is also available via the internet on the 350 PBS member stations that serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

In my role as a coach I provide support and training for a cohort of up to six nationally and internationally recognized scholars, artists and activists preparing them to write compelling scholarly researched based presentations to communicate their research focus for a television audience and conduct interactive, engaging academic presentations.

The scholar presenters are the "face" of the series. With my help scholar presenters create a nine minute segment that focuses on their research expertise and interest.

The selection process is highly competitive. Scholars must submit a research abstract and a committee of scholars makes the final selection of twelve scholars for each cohort. Over a twelve week process I hold writing and coaching sessions with each of my six scholars to review and provide feedback on their research abstract. Next, the scholars submit a draft outline of their research critique based presentation. The critique focuses on the strengths and limitations of the research. We engage in discussion and brainstorming via at least two teleconferences or videoconferences to further develop their presentation and analyze the merits and faults of their critique. As we move to the final presentation draft I help the scholars title their talk and pay special attention to editing to create a nine minute presentation segment centered on the scholars research focus.

Of note, as a result of the specific research focus of each scholar, the content focus of the papers is quite varied. During season 2019 the scholars I supported included: senior reporter for The Root, Terrell Starr; Terri Givens a leading researcher on race, politics and immigration policy and Dr. Mohan Ambikaipaker a professor of critical race theory.

Through my work as a scholar coach I help shape the advancement of scholarly and public discourse on a wide variety of research subjects.

Hart's Contribution as a Presenter

This year I also presented my current research. My presentation was an extension of my research entitled "Beyond Respectability Politics: a 108 year history of black theatre at Howard University." For my 8 minute segment I focused on the historic necessity of HBCU's and the impact of their great legacy on the world. The episode will air on PBS in July 2019.

Creative Work: Archival Research Presentation

Scholarly Equivalency - General Article

Hart's Contribution as Archival Research Presenter

Inherent in the field of dramaturgy, specifically public-dramaturgy and literary management, is the awareness of writing trends and the ability to find and articulate the narrative within the context of a season or a specific time period. My archival research project, "Beyond Respectability Politics: The Evolution of Black Theatre at Howard University," is situated in uncovering the narrative found in examining the production history of black theatre on the campus of Howard University.

Presently the heart of the research is the creation of the 108 year production history of theatre production on the campus of Howard University and the student drama organization The Howard Players role in the evolution of theatre at Howard. This phase of the research was compiled using the resources documented in the left sidebar.

For the delivery of the presentation of my research at the 2018 Black Theatre Network Conference I utilized my expertise in public-focused dramaturgy. Public-focused dramaturgical efforts function to contextualize and offer frameworks for interpretation, critique and analysis. I created and executed a slide presentation that moved the audience through select time periods in the 108 year production history oftentimes sharing information that had not been previously shared publicly. I also posed questions to the audience inviting them to critique their perspectives on the evolution of black theatre, as well as shared the ongoing questions I seek to answer as I continue to conduct my research.

To view the presentation - Click Here

This research will be of significant value to other scholars doing research on: Black Theatre, The Howard Players, Theatre in Wasington DC, History of Howard University, Playwrights of the Black Arts Movement and Black Women Playwrights, among others.

In addition, this research will aide the Department of Theatre Arts at Howard University with defining its vision, mission and goals for the next 100+ years.

It will also be of value to theatre scholars who are researching and writing about the progression of the black theatre agenda (in academia and in the US) from the 1900’s through today.

My initial narrative is exploring the double edged sword of respectability and how a practice deemed necessary for social, political and economic survival had a profound impact on the presentation of blackness on stages at the academic, local and national levels.

The framework of my argument is found in the "Art Theatre (Locke) vs. Propaganda/Political Theatre (Dubois)" debate.

Professor of Howard University and key advisor during the inception years of the Howard Players, Alain LeRoy Locke, held the philosophy that the value of black theatre should focus on "Art Theatre" or “Negro theatre distinguished from the idea of race or political drama”. In contrast, Locke's intellectual counterpart, W. E. B. DuBois, held the philosophy that black theatre should be "Propaganda/Political Theatre" or “All art is propaganda and ever must be, despite the wailing of the purists”.

Both men sought to control the evolution of black theatre from approximately 1916 - 1926 and their divergent philosophies continue to impact black theatre playmaking and production through today.

My goal is to examine the 108 year production history of theatre at Howard University and determine the evolution of both philosophies within theatre produced on the campus.

The eventual outcome of the research project will be a published book.

My research contributions made to achieve the goals of developing an archival research project reflecting scholarly merit for "Beyond Respectability Politics" include:

• Conduct approximately 2200 hours of research using in person archival research centers and online materials
• Correspond with and conduct personal interviews with former students and faculty from the Howard University Department of Theatre Arts
• Catalogue and organize research materials
• Compile 108 years of theatre production on the campus of Howard University from 1909 - 1918
• Analyze the 108 year theatre production history for trends and an over arching narrative