{"product_id":"signifying-sanctifyin-and-slam-dunking-gena-dagel-caponi-9781558491830","title":"Signifyin(g), Sanctifyin', and Slam Dunking: A Reader in African American Expressive Culture","description":"Observers of American society have long noted the distinctive contribution of African Americans to the nation's cultural life. We find references to African American music and dance, black forms of oral expression, even a black style of playing basketball. But what do such terms really mean? Is it legitimate to talk about a distinct African American aesthetic, or is this simply a vestige of an outmoded racial essentialism? What makes a particular form of cultural expression \"black\" other than the fact that some African Americans may practice it? These are some of the questions addressed in the readings gathered in this volume by Gena Dagel Caponi. The essays, some previously published and others new, spring from a variety of disciplines and cover a broad range of topics, from the communal ritual of the ring shout to the evolution of rap to the improvisational genius of Michael Jordan. While each piece focuses on a different aspect of African American expressive culture, together they reveal a set of creative principles, techniques, and practices--a cultural aesthetic--that is remarkably consistent and resilient.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Gena Dagel Caponi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 155849183X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781558491830\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Massachusetts Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/12\/1999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 480\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.62lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.25h x 6.19w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/15\/1999 pg. 72\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eUniv PR Books for Public Libry\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2000 pg. 23 - Outstanding","brand":"Gena Dagel Caponi","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43939624190207,"sku":"9781558491830","price":33.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_b84cd9a9-c622-4b4c-8e3a-601012247b95.jpg?v=1681442577","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/signifying-sanctifyin-and-slam-dunking-gena-dagel-caponi-9781558491830","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}