Scripts of Blackness: Early Modern Performance Culture and the Making of Race by Noémie Ndiaye (review)

Reviewed by: Scripts of Blackness: Early Modern Performance Culture and the Making of Race by Noémie Ndiaye Haniyeh B. Pasandi Ndiaye, Noémie. Scripts of Blackness: Early Modern Performance Culture and the Making of Race. UP of Pennsylvania, 2022. ISBN 9781512822649. Pp. 358. This book offers a deeply insightful examination of the complex interplay between performative blackness, racial identity, and early modern European performance culture. Structured around three vivid scenes, the book captures key moments that illustrate the nuanced nature of performative blackness. These scenes act as a strong starting point for the author's more extensive investigation, drawing the reader in with vivid stories from Seville, Spain, Paris, France, and beyond. Through the lens of these scenes, Ndiaye paints a vivid picture of how racial impersonation, often manifested through masks, makeup, language, and movement, not only shaped early modern performances but also played a pivotal role in the construction of racial categories and power dynamics. One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to navigate the complexities of historical and contemporary contexts. The author adeptly traces the origins of performative blackness back to Renaissance Europe, dispelling cultural amnesia and emphasizing its enduring influence. By analyzing the use of three specific techniques—black-up, blackspeak, and black dances—Ndiaye unveils the poetics underlying these methods, highlighting the ways in which they contributed to the creation of racial scripts. Furthermore, the author demonstrates a keen awareness of the transnational nature of performative blackness. The book masterfully weaves together expansive archives from different European nations, transcending geographic boundaries and exposing the universality of performative blackness' influence. The book is organized in four chapters. The first chapter delves into the historical evolution of cosmetic blackness in Western Europe from the 16th to the 17th century. Examining its associations with diabolism and medieval performance, the chapter reveals how exclusionary scripts of blackness were formulated, especially in the public theater. These scripts contributed to xenophobia and racial aversion in England. Meanwhile, France and Spain responded differently to cosmetic blackness, with France using it to caution against assimilation and Spain commodifying it. Focusing on high baroque theatrical culture, the second chapter explores the construction of scripts surrounding female blackness. The oblique aesthetics of Afro-diasporic women's desirability led to various scripts, such as exclusion from eroticized representation. In France, court ballets excluded Afro-diasporic women, while in England, black women were framed as succubae. Spain's scripts highlighted colorist nuances, revealing the intricate interplay of blackness and desirability. The chapter exposes how these scripts distorted and misrepresented the realities of sexual violence against Afro-diasporic women in the early modern colonial context. Shifting the focus to acoustic elements, the third chapter explores blackspeak (mock-African accents). The final chapter End Page 192 investigates how dances associated with Afro-diasporic identity were used as instruments of both racialization and self-emancipation. The book provides a fresh lens through which to explore the intricate relationship between performative blackness and early modern European culture. Its multidisciplinary approach, rich historical analysis, and nuanced exploration of racial impersonation make it an indispensable resource for scholars, educators, and anyone interested in the complex interplay between race, performance, and identity. It is a vital addition to the scholarship on early modern history, performance studies, and critical race theory. End Page 193 Haniyeh B. Pasandi University of Maryland, Baltimore County Copyright © 2024 American Association of Teachers of French