Consuming Stories

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In this work, Rebecca Peabody examines contemporary American artist Kara Walker's exploration of popular storytelling traditions rooted in the nineteenth century. By focusing on key pieces, including large installations and artist's books, Peabody highlights Walker's commitment to analyzing narrative representations of race, gender, power, and desire. The study delves into Walker's engagement with literary genres such as romance, neo-slave narratives, and fairy tales, as well as well-known stories like Roots, Beloved, and Uncle Tom's Cabin. Walker's interruptions of these familiar narratives reveal how genre conventions are intertwined with specific racial representations, particularly concerning power dynamics. By breaking these implicit rules, she makes them visible, emphasizing viewers' dependence on them for narrative understanding. Peabody illustrates that Walker's exploration of narrative extends beyond her silhouette work into film, video, and sculpture. Additionally, Walker's strategies unsettle cultural histories internationally, demonstrating how stories influence historical memory and the entertainment industry. Ultimately, this analysis shifts the focus from the visual legacy of historical racism to the contemporary role of the entertainment industry and its consumers in shaping processes of racialization.