Black Cinema: An Introduction

3 units

This course introduces students to the films and filmmaking practices from West Africa, South Africa, and Black Britain. Central to the pedagogical goals of this class is to introduce students to the diverse societies, cultures, and perspective of people from Africa and the diaspora through cinema. Students will immerse themselves in the types of social critiques the films engage in as they tackle topics such as gender politics, race, polygamy, migration, corruption, human rights, homosexuality, economic crisis, apartheid, and Westernization. Through critical analysis of films, academic readings, and participating in the annual African Film Festival hosted at Washington University this course will fulfill the requirements set out above. Even though four weeks of the course focuses on Black British Cinema and the social, political, and economic condition of black British citizens, students will engage with the complexities of the African diaspora experience, particularly in relationship to migration, diaspora, race relations, and gender and sexuality. Given that the course as a whole focuses on filmmaking practices, aesthetics and the politics of African and African diasporic cinemas, students will definitely be exposed to a totally different world experience and the diversity of people, cultures, and aesthetics in Africa and the diaspora. Student in this class will also be required to actively participate in the annual African Film Festival hosted by Washington University and will have the unique opportunity to interact with visiting filmmakers. Required screening Thursday at 5pm. Required screening Thursdays at 5pm.