Jacqueline Stewart is an associate professor of radio/television/film at Northwestern University, and has a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. She specializes in film history and was on the faculty of the University of Chicago. Her research interests include early African American film, histories and theories of spectatorship, and how the urban migration of African Americans influenced, and was influenced by, the emergence and development of cinema as both a representational medium and a social space.

This post-show discussion immediately followed the performance of American Ethnic, a spoken word and hip-hop infused exploration of how the media shapes the way we see race, gender and ourselves. American Ethnic was written and performed by hip-hop theater artist Usman Ally, NEA Award-winning performer Idris Goodwin, and three time HBO Def Poetry Jam performer Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai. It was directed by Remy Bumppo Artistic Associate Nick Sandys.

Remy Bumppo’s thinkTank features short dramatic works with a focus on provoking timely conversation about a social, political or economic issue in which Chicago citizens have a stake. A post-show discussion follows, led by speakers from the community representing various viewpoints on thinkTank’s theme. Past topics include immigration (2007) and national security (2008).

Recorded Sunday, March 15, 2009 at The Greenhouse Theater.