AFRO 3654 is also offered in Fall 2022
AFRO 3654 is also offered in Fall 2021
Fall 2019 | AFRO 3654 Section 001: African Cinema (32980)
- Instructor(s)
- Class Component:
- Discussion
- Credits:
- 3 Credits
- Grading Basis:
- A-F only
- Instructor Consent:
- No Special Consent Required
- Instruction Mode:
- In Person Term Based
- Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
- Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
Mon,
Wed 09:45AM - 11:00AM
UMTC, West Bank
Blegen Hall 115
- Enrollment Status:
Closed (25 of 25 seats filled)
- Also Offered:
- Course Catalog Description:
- This course introduces you to films written and directed by African filmmakers beginning the 2nd part of the 20th Century. Through an exploration of the stylistic and thematic issues raised by each film, it is expected that students will gain a broad understanding of how African filmmakers portray African social and cultural life, including the artistic and political contexts within which they work. In this way, students will gain an historical perspective on the origins of African filmmaking, confront the basic social, cultural and aesthetic questions raised by African filmmakers and critics, and consider how questions raised by African filmmakers and their films fit into the larger context of world cinema. We will contrast postcolonial African films with Hollywood jungle epics, settler/adventure romances in safari paradise, and colonial movies about Africa. Moving beyond strict categories and standards we will also examine the role of documentary films in shaping our understanding of African people's lives and the social construction of reality. We will review the place of documentary film in the current media-scape and discuss its functions and limitations. Most films will be screened in original languages with English subtitles.
- Class Description:
- This course introduces you to films written and directed by African filmmakers beginning the 2nd part of the 20th Century. Through an exploration of the stylistic and thematic issues raised by each film, it is expected that students will gain a broad understanding of how African filmmakers portray African social and cultural life, including the artistic and political contexts within which they work. In this way, students will confront the basic social, cultural and aesthetic questions raised by African filmmakers and critics, gain an historical perspective on the origins of African filmmaking, and consider how questions raised by African filmmakers and their films fit into the larger context of world cinema. Moving beyond strict categories and standards we will also examine the role of documentary in shaping our understanding of people's lives and the social construction of reality. We will examine the role of documentary film in the current media-scape and discuss its functions and limitations. We will contrast postcolonial African films with Hollywood jungle epics and colonial movies about Africa. The films will be screened in original languages with English subtitles.
- Grading:
- Class Participation (25 %); Reading Questions & Summary (25%); Review Essays (25%); Final Project (25%)
- Exam Format:
- Class Participation (25 %); Reading Questions & Summary (25%); Review Essays (25%); Final Project (25%)
- Class Format:
- 30% Lecture;
30% Film/Video;
30% Discussion;
10% Small Group Activities
- Workload:
- 2-3 Film Viewings Per Week; 50-75 Pages Reading per week; 30 Pages Writing Per Term; 4 Essays Per Term; 10 In-Class Writing Exercises & Homework Assignments; One Final Project
- Textbooks:
- https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/32980/1199
- Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
- 1 July 2015
ClassInfo Links - Fall 2019 African Amer & African Studies Classes