Beyonce's music inspires UTC's Lemonade Week

Beyonce's album "Lemonade" is the inspiration for four days of discussions on contemporary feminism.
Beyonce's album "Lemonade" is the inspiration for four days of discussions on contemporary feminism.

"Lemonade," Beyoncé's "visual album," smashed onto airwaves a year ago, raising sales dollars, social awareness and critical controversy.

Now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is embracing Beyoncé's vision with Lemonade Week, which will begin Monday, April 3, and conclude Thursday, April 6.

Lemonade Week will combine Beyonce's thoughts with Candice Benbow's Lemonade: The Syllabus as jumping-off points to discuss issues raised on "Lemonade," such as the lives, loves and pain of black women. Faculty and students in UTC's English, Art, Theater, History, Exercise Science departments and Women's Studies program will come together to delve more deeply into these topics during daily events.

All sessions are free, except for April 6, and are open to the public.

* Monday, April 3: "We Are All/Are We All Feminist(s), 7:30 p.m., UTC University Center, Multicultural Center, Room 352.

A round-table discussion of major threads in African-American, African and women's studies to clarify major movements in contemporary feminism. Inspired by Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche's "We Should All Be Feminists," featuring Immaculate Kizza, Marcia Noe and James Arnett of UTC and Taryn Jordan of Emory University.

* Tuesday, April 4: Lemonade: The Lecture, 7:30 p.m., Derthick Lecture Hall, Room 201.

Join UTC professors, students and local artist Bebe Dupree for creative responses to Beyonce's album "Lemonade" in a theatrical, multimedia, multisensory performance.

* Wednesday, April 5: A Night of Black Women Writers, 7:30 p.m., UTC University Center, Multicultural Center, Room 352.

A celebration of contributions and innovations made by African-American women writers, poets, philosophers and theorists. Hosted by students and faculty of UTC's English Department.

* Thursday, April 6: The Right To Move: Okay, Ladies, Now Let's Get In/Formation, 4:30 p.m., UTC Dance Studio in the Aquatic and Recreation Center.

This program combines a brief lecture on the influential early 20th-century journalism and civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells and a choreography tutorial from Beyoncé's single "Formation." Members of the public will be charged a $5 entrance fee to the gym.

For information, contact professor James Arnett at james-arnett@utc.edu or 423-425-4602.

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