Library Research Colloquium Series

Student Research Presentation - Anthony Keys

Anthony Keys's Interdisciplinary Studies capstone project is a deeply personal and research-based exploration of Black representation in media—told through the lens of his own life. As a former athlete whose heart condition forced an unexpected pivot, he reflects on what it means to reconstruct identity beyond physical ability while navigating the media’s limited portrayals of Black men. Through an ethnographic short film and critical literature review, this project challenges stereotypes, interrogates tokenism, and spotlights the emotional and cultural cost of hypermasculinity. Merging Standpoint Theory with cultural analysis, Keys reclaims the narrative and affirms that vulnerability, intellect, and creative expression are just as central to Black masculinity as strength and resilience. His story becomes a broader call to shift how we frame Black lives on screen, and off.

Recording of Zoom Presentation