Lecturer in African and African American Studies and American Culture Studies Zachary Manditch-Prottas was one of the featured panelists of the opening night celebration of the St. Louis International Film Festival.
"Participating in the 32nd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival's opening night celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in St. Louis was a pleasure! It was an honor to share a stage with local curators and artists who have been committed to Hip-Hop in St. Louis long before I ever arrived at WashU. I hope my participation on the panel and Professor Jonathan Fenderson and my course, "Beats, Rhymes, and Life: A Cultural History of Hip-Hop," might humbly add to the rich community already honoring Hip-Hop here in St. Louis. Seeing so many WashU students in the crowd that night warmed my heart and assured me that the legacy and future of Hip-Hop is in good hands with them."
This event was co-presented with the Saint Louis Art Museum's exhibition, "Culture: Hip Hop & Contemporary Art in the 21st Century". This immersive showcase offers a profound journey into hip hop's global impact on art and culture, spanning music, visual arts, fashion, technology, and more, underscoring its immense international significance.
Zachary Manditch-Prottas is a full-time lecturer jointly appointed in the Department of African and African American Studies and American Culture Studies. He earned his doctorate in African American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. His research and teaching work at the nexus of African American literature, Black cultural studies, and theories of gender and sexuality.
