FS4013: AFRICAN CINEMA (2022-2023)

Addressing cultural and historical approaches to African cinema, the module will introduce students to a selection of notable motion pictures, from the early postcolonial period of Senegal and the end of white rule across Southern Africa to ‘Hollywood’s Africa’ and the present-day output of rising powers such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Such examples will be highlighted via weekly screenings alongside relevant course readings.

 As there are clear cultural differences between North and sub-Saharan Africa, this module focuses on the latter – introducing modern breakout movements, alongside fresh provocation from Kenya and South Africa, both during and after the apartheid regime. This module will also indicate to students that, contrary to familiar news stories, Africa’s story is not one of repeated tragedy or impoverishment – hence the inclusion of popular genre fare that subverts familiar Western depictions of the continent, including the blockbuster The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980).

 Students will be expected to record a video essay and to explore their reading and viewing in a final academic paper. This dual approach will also provide students with the opportunity to develop a critical voice. Furthermore, in this module students will also learn about transnational adaptation, including how seventies ‘blaxploitation’ cinema was used as a template for South Africa’s controversial B-Scheme filmmaking and how third and second cinema provided a template for more radical voices to emerge. Finally, attendees will develop an understanding of uniquely African distribution and production networks, particularly Nollywood, and its influence across East and West Africa, which has led to the emergence of hitherto unexplored, localised voices.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

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There are no assessments for this course.