Yannick Blec is a certified professor of English (PRCE) at Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis. He holds a doctorate from the University of Paris-Est and specializes in African American Cultural Studies, with particular focus on African American LGBTQ+ masculinities in popular arts and contemporary African American literature. His academic affiliations include the Critical Transfers (TransCrit) research group and the Department of Languages, Literatures and Foreign Civilizations (UFR LLCE-LEA). Dr. Blec's research interests center on the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in African American communities, examining how Black identities are constructed and represented in literature, hip hop, cinema, and popular culture. His work frequently analyzes the Black Arts Movement and contemporary expressions of Black queer identities, with significant scholarly attention to the works of William Melvin Kelley. He employs interdisciplinary approaches drawing from phenomenology, Africana existential philosophy, and intersectionality theory. His recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory examining the evolution of Black masculinities in contemporary culture, with particular focus on hip hop artists who challenge traditional gender norms. His research analyzes how figures like Lil Nas X, Kevin Abstract, and Bob the Drag Queen are reshaping representations of Black masculinity through their music, performances, and public personas. Blec's work bridges literary analysis with contemporary cultural critique, examining both historical contexts from the Civil Rights era and current cultural movements. As an educator, Dr. Blec teaches courses in English language skills, contemporary cultures, and African American protest arts. He is also co-manager of the 'Conference Reports' section of the Quaderna journal, contributing to academic discourse in his field. His research methodology often incorporates analysis of YouTube reaction videos to gauge community reception of Black queer cultural expressions, demonstrating innovative approaches to understanding cultural impact.
