Section 11: Consider Your Audience
Skills Focus: Purpose Anticipate Readers’ Needs—Orient readers who aren't experts on the topic by supplying any background information such readers would need in order to follow the discussionHW, part 1 Watch episodes 4-7 of Dear White People. Once again, take note of scenes you find particularly striking in some way—especially thought-provoking, surprising, or confusing, etc.
HW, Part 2: Online Discussion In the online discussion section of our canvas website, share your reactions to episodes 4-7 and your evolving thoughts about the series. How do these middle episodes of the season change your perspective on the incidents and characters depicted in the first three episodes?
Interviews w/ Simien & Media Reactions to Dear White People (the film as well as the TV show)
- Laura Bradley, “How Dear White People Turns Texting and Twitter into Emotional Art” Vanity Fair 4 May 2018
- Laura Bradley, “How Dear White People Found Itself Sophomore Year,” Vanity Fair 6 May 2018
- Elizabeth Dohms, “Netflix's 'Dear White People' Pits Identity Against Self,” Wisconsin Public Radio 19 May 2018
- Nia Hampton, “On Coco and Colorism: Dear White People, Let's Talk About Chapter IV,” Paste Magazine 11 May 2017
- Aisha Harris, “Dear White People the Netflix Show Is Infinitely Better Than Dear White People the Movie,” Slate 27 April 2017
- Julian Kimble, “Netflix’s Dear White People Shows the Problem With ‘Wokeness’” Complex 28 April 2017
- Melanie McFarland, ““Dear White People,” listen up: This is the conversation starter about race you’ve wanted,” Salon 27 April 2017
- Vann R. Newkirk II, Adrienne Green, Gillian B. White, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, “How Insightful Is Dear White People?” The Atlantic 17 May 2017
- Matt Zoller Seitz, “Netflix’s Dear White People Is a Feat,” Vulture 27 April 2017
- Ashley Ray-Harris, “Black Women Are the True Heroes of Dear White People” Jezebel.com 3 May 2017
- Ashley Ray-Harris, “The Excellent Dear White People Doesn’t Care about White People,”The A.V. Club 19 April 2017
- Sonia Saraiya, “Dear White People Review,” Vanity Fair 20 April 2018
- Matt Zoller Seitz, “Dear White People Levels Up in Season Two,” Vulture 8 May 2018
- Justin Simien, Interview with Ari Shapiro, on All Things Considered (NPR.org) 27 April 2017
- Reggie Ugwu, “Why the Creator of ‘Dear White People’ Is Doubling Down on Identity Politics,” New York Times 2 May 2018
- Pilot Viruet, “'Dear White People' Is Hilarious, Real, and Necessary,” Vice 27 April 2017
Optional If you’re thinking of writing your essay on an episode of Dear White People, I recommend reading a few of the linked reviews of DWP or interviews w/ its creator, Justin Simien. If you come across an especially interesting piece or idea you think we should discuss, you might mention it in the online discussion.