JAY-Z bared all in his newest album 4:44.
He's received a lot of praise for doing so. Many feel that the album is a necessary challenge to stereotypes about masculinity and male vulnerability.
One of these people is Anthony Boynton, a writer and aspiring professor of English and African American Studies.
This week, Boynton published a syllabus he has created along with several collaborators that provides both a deep dive into the album and a exploration of how its themes resonate in society.
The 4:44 Syllabus has been launched #444Syllabus: https://t.co/0SgSQS1cmU
— Professor Boynton (@ADBoyntonII) August 28, 2017
Professor Boynton, as he is known on Twitter, has called class to session and has created a downloadable handbook that chronicles narratives of blackness and dissects tracks from the album in a unique way.
Read the syllabus' summary below:
"The 4:44 Syllabus is a living document created by black men and masculine nonbinary people who were inspired by the labor of black women, the emotional vulnerability of JAY-Z’s 4:44, focusing on black men’s relationship to masculinity, emotional availability, maturity, sexuality and black capitalism. This syllabus provides resources to help us unpack the album’s content."
The syllabus includes chapters on subjects like black fatherhood, capitalism and gender fluidity.
It is a "purposefully communal effort" that combines visual artistry with psychology and fresh perspectives on manhood.
The syllabus is available for download now on Issuu.
