Enduring Narratives of The African American Community Discussion

Here is a prompt: Analyze Augusta Savage’s sculpture in light of W.E.B. DuBois’ comments on art. Use quotations and provide MLA Works Cited.

Here is an AI-generated response:

Augusta Savage’s sculptures, notably her iconic work “The Harp” (1939), resonate profoundly with W. E. B. Du Bois’ perspectives on art as a tool for cultural expression and racial uplift. Du Bois, a prominent African American scholar and activist, emphasized the role of art in fostering a positive racial identity and challenging racial stereotypes.

Savage’s “The Harp” exemplifies Du Bois’ ideas by capturing the essence of African American heritage and resilience. The sculpture depicts a harp with strings that transform into the profiles of black individuals, symbolizing the interconnectedness of African American lives and the richness of their cultural contributions. Du Bois, in his famous essay “The Souls of Black Folk,” contends that art should serve as a means of representing the complex and multifaceted nature of the black experience. He argues that art can be a powerful force in shaping public perceptions and breaking down racial prejudices.

Savage’s work aligns with Du Bois’ belief in the importance of cultural representation. The harp, a symbol of harmony and beauty, becomes a metaphor for the potential unity and strength of the African American community. Du Bois’ assertion that “the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line” finds expression in Savage’s sculpture, as she confronts racial issues through her art.

In conclusion, Augusta Savage’s sculpture, particularly “The Harp,” serves as a visual manifestation of W. E. B. Du Bois’ ideas on the transformative power of art in addressing racial challenges. By merging the aesthetic and the cultural, Savage contributes to the ongoing dialogue about African American identity and the pursuit of equality.

Works Cited:

Du Bois, W. E. B. “The Souls of Black Folk.” Project Gutenberg, 1996, www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/408. Accessed 13 Nov. 2023.

Your job: Using the analytical skills, vocabulary, and concepts we’ve been learning this semester, critique ChatGTP’s response in specific detail and explain how your own analysis is better. Use quotations from ChatGTP and from our course’s specific sources. Do not cite works we have not read or studied in our our course. 

Here is the Works Cited entry for the AI-generated text:

“Analyze Augusta Savage’s sculpture in light of W.E.B. DuBois’ comments on art” prompt. ChatGPT, OpenAI, November 13, 2023.  chat.openai.com/chat.

When you quote portions of the chatbot’s products, integrate the quotation as you normally would. For example, if you draw our attention to the final paragraph’s transition, you would note the clunky “In conclusion” (“Analyze,” ChatGTP) and then say whatever you have to say about that transition to the conclusion. As always, note that the in-text citation matches up with the Works Cited entry.