LENS #3: Critical Race Theory
Definition: Examines the appearance of race and racism across art and literature. Examples can be types of hair that are portrayed in film, art, novels. Race theorists look at personalities given to black/brown characters. Race theorists also look at if there is a presence of other races in stories or are all characters white?
Race theorists stand by that historically, white/straight/male images of power were honored in literature and art. It wasn't until critism of this did we see change. Race theorists often combine with Marxist theory to point out the relationship of poverty to racial conditions.
Recurring Questions: What race has the most power or is considerded the hero of a text? Is there a presence of other races and if so, how are those other races presented?
