Duran is clearly experienced. She is specific about the material she wants to know to make sure you pass the exams and ace the papers. She also has a witty and fun personality. Lectures do get repetitive and she does encourage class discussions because she likes her lectures to go as planned. She not very transparent about grading criteria.
Duran is a great professor and is very enthusiastic about the material. Skipping a few classes won't heavily impact you but I wouldn't recommend it as she often says little snippets that are interesting and won't remember them if you ask later. Great addition to the black studies department.
As an international student from France, I was scared about the grading and the difficulty of the class. However, Prof Duran integrated me so well, I loved the readings, I was passionated by her class, feedback. Amazing and talented teacher who knows what she's talking about. Bright and strong personality. Best teacher ever.
This lady should retire. She is WAY too old to be teaching. Her lectures were pretty stupid. All she did was talk about the books, so read them because it will be helpful. Overall, she wasn't too bad just liked to preach her feminist stuff.
Crazy liberal lady, very old, and thinks that berkeley grads are the smartest people in the world. First white person I met that really understands Black history. Recommended.
very good prof. exciting and most the books are cool too. fairly easy grader. def would reccommend.
DURAN IS GREAT!! SHE ALWAYS TEACHES INTERESTING MATERIAL. SHE EXPLAINS EVERYTHING IN CLASS AND GRADES FAIRLY. DEF. TAKE ANY OF HER CLASSES. I'VE ALREADY TAKEN TWO WITH DURAN.
Very liberal hippie type from Berkeley. Her weird hand gestures and movements can get annoying after a while. She knows her stuff though. The readings were interesting and she expects a lot of class participation in a room of 90+ students. If you sit near the front and raise your hand and speak/ask questions, she'll love you. Recommended
annoyingly liberal as is every professor at UCSB, but it was an interesting class. She does have an extremely long rat tail, and the front of the class reeks like B.O. Its a good ethnicity GE!
Older, hippie lady from Berkeley, so very liberal. Awesome literature selections. All were very interesting and easy to read. Really encourages participation in lecture, so get ready to talk.
Very interesting class and the material was complex and difficult at times but since I've taken her before I knew what to expect. She is extremely and unapologetically liberal but she does allow for differing opinions. All in all one of the better professors in the Black Studies departments.
She is a very easy teacher. The readings are all easy to read and enjoyable. I recommend taking your papers to Professor Duran for prior editing, becuase she is the easiest grader. If you miss lecture its ok, but try to make it as much as you can. There is no midterm.
Prof. Duran is as far left as they come, unabashedly. She presents interesting material and keeps her lectures straightforward by walking you through the significant points. Max was a great TA, interesting discussions. Take Duran if you want to learn something & not obsess about grades or logistics
Grade based entirely on essays, easy class if you're a good writer. Participating in class and discussion can really boost your grade. Jane is a 77-year-old washed out 'hippie,' fortunately nobody takes her seriously.
WOWSERS....don't get too close cuz she is one stinky individual...she does know her stuff but the TA's grade the papers and are very inconsistent
Jan is brilliant! Stimulating, inspirational. Makes you think about literature and reading in an entirely new way. Helped me personally in choosing grad schools. Highly recommend this class if you are open minded.
I thought she was terrible, she's great if all of your views coincide with her hippie/femenist garbage, but if you have formed an alternative view of the world keep it to yourself and you'll be fine.
Terrible professor, does look homeless. Spent the quarter lecturing on the benefits of Berkeley. She does know a great deal abut her subject. Unhelpful in Office Hours, actually hurt my grade attending them.
shes really unclear and its really hard to take notes in class because she goes off on so many random dangents and shes a little weird, but it makes it interesting
Prof Duran is the greatest -- funny, knowledgeable, exciting..SHe really knows her stuff, is never too busy to help, and you'll never be bored. She's had quite a life!
Took 34A, couldn't wait to take 34B and glad I did. Jane is a great prof with a lot to offer, very approachable and in tune with her students.
Smelly, funky, white lady who knows her stuff about Afro American Lit and Culture. If one could transport her into some random downtown LA homeless scene, you wouldn't be able to tell that she was a professor. But when she's teaching, she's in control!
Jane is pretty crazy, but the class is pretty easy.