Deadpan: The Aesthetics of Black Inexpression

Deadpan is a book about the expressionless, inscrutable, and emotional withholding in Black cultural production. It argues that inexpression is a gesture that acquires distinctive meanings in concert with blackness, and that the performance of purposeful withholding is a critical tool in the work of black culture makers. It examines performances of blackness's deadpan aesthetic within and beyond black embodiments, including Young Jean Lees The Shipment and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Neighbors, as well as Buster Keatons signature character and Steve McQueens restitution of the formers legacy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 16 December 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

Deadpan: Exploring Expressionlessness, Inscrutability, and Emotional Withholding in Black Cultural Production

Tina Post, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Criticism, delves into the enigmatic realm of expressionlessness, inscrutability, and emotional withholding in Black cultural production. In her groundbreaking work, "Deadpan," Post argues that inexpression is a gesture that acquires distinct meanings in conjunction with blackness. She traces the instances and meanings of deadpan, a vaudeville term that originally referred to "dead face," across various art forms, including literature, theater, visual and performance art, and the performance of self in everyday life.

Post reveals that the performance of purposeful withholding is a critical tool in the work of black culture makers, intervening in the persistent framing of African American aesthetics as colorful, loud, humorous, and excessive. This project examines the deadpan aesthetic within and beyond black embodiments, encompassing works such as Young Jean Lee's "The Shipment" and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' "Neighbors," as well as Buster Keaton's iconic character and Steve McQueen's restitution of the former's legacy within the continuum of Black cultural production.

Through this diverse archive, Post unveils how deadpan aesthetics function in and between opacity and fugitivity, minimalism and saturation, excess and insensibility. She sheds light on the ways in which black artists employ this aesthetic to challenge conventional notions of representation, subvert expectations, and create spaces for nuanced and complex emotional expression.

"Deadpan" is a groundbreaking exploration that offers a fresh perspective on the rich tapestry of Black cultural production. It challenges readers to reconsider the power of inexpression and withholding, highlighting their role in shaping the narratives and aesthetics of black culture. Post's meticulous research and insightful analysis make this work a valuable contribution to the field of cultural studies and a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of black identity and representation.

Weight: 422g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479811212