IS 198 - Studies in African Film Michael Dembrow, Instructor

T/Th.. 6:00-9:30 Office: Miller 436

Miller 205, 105 Tel.: 978-5213

Four Semester Credits Email: mdembrow

Web: http//spot.pcc.edu/~mdembrow/is198.html

THE COURSE: This course will study a number of films by filmmakers from the African continent, primarily Sub-Saharan. We will be approaching these films as narrative, cinematic texts, using techniques derived from literary, cultural, and film analysis. The course will be built around a series of 11 films--from Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Ethiopia,.. Over the course of the semester, we'll be examining the following issues that preoccupy African filmmakers:

… Traditional storytelling (the oral tradition) and its interplay with Western cinematic techniques

… The struggle to accommodate both tradition and modernity

… Moving to the city--or trying to remain free of it

… Women's quest for power and community

… The impact of colonialism

… Looking to the pre-colonial past for perspective and guidance

… The Myth of Europe

… African film in search of an audience

In addition, we'll be looking at aspects of these films in ways that would be familiar to any teacher of literature: "coming of age" themes; quests/journeys, literal, psychological, and spiritual; narratology; point of view; audience positioning; and others. We'll also be looking at them as films, as examples of what is often called "Third-World Filmmaking," or "Third Cinema."

We'll be looking at each film from a triple perspective--(a) as an artistic text in its own right; (b) as an example of filmmaking in Africa, similar yet different from other films of its kind; and (c) as a means to a better understanding of the beauties, as well as the problematics, of the complex reality of contemporary Africa.

TEXTS: Imruh Bakari and Mbye Cham, African Experiences of Cinema.

Beti Ellertson, Sisters of the Screen

Also, I'll be providing you with photocopies of a variety of materials: film notes, articles/essays on directors and interviews with them, as well as background information on Africa and on film study.

IN-CLASS: The class will meet twice each week for 3-4 hours. The first two hours will be spent in lecture/discussion, and the second 90 minutes (more or less) for film screening and immediate reaction. First, I'll be lecturing on an aspect of African film history and industry, generating discussion of the assigned readings, and doing close analyses (shot by shot, or even frame by frame) of selected segments of the previous class's film (as well as segments from other films by the director). We'll then spend time discussing the film, based on the readings and the discussion questions which I'll have given you.

Film screenings generally run from 90 to 120 minutes. As you'll see from the film list, most of the films are around 90 minutes, but some are longer. We should generally be through by 9:30, but you should plan to stay a little later on a few evenings.

Feel free to invite a friend/relative/companion to any of the film screenings.

WRITTEN WORK: I'm interested in getting you to articulate your responses to the films, both orally and in written form. In articulating your impressions/ideas, you'll find yourself coming to new insights, making sharper connections.

I'll be giving you several ways of doing that:

(a) Journal. I'll want you to keep a journal in which you record your personal reactions to the films and respond to the readings. This is a chance for you to connect with the film and the readings in terms of your own experiences and tastes. Here is where you can respond to the "world-views" being expressed in these films, and the ideas being articulated in the readings, as well as express your gut reactions to them. I'm really interested in seeing that you've done the readings and have thought about them. Plan to spend an hour with your journal each week.

How will the journal be graded? On the thoughtfulness of your responses and the weekly regularity of your entries. Please bring your journal to class each class. I'll collect them midway through the course and give you a tentative grade, then collect them again at the end for a final grade.

(b) Study Questions. In order to help you analyze the films, I'll be giving you a set of study questions on each film we'll be seeing. We'll discuss them the following week, after you've had a chance to think about the film and do the readings. Jot down notes for each study question, then choose three questions and write out more detailed responses (c. 100 words each). They do not need to be typed (but be kind to my poor eyes).

(c) Project. I'll expect each of you to do a term project, due July 27. This project will be a paper (7-8 pp.) focusing on an individual topic that we'll work out together. It should be a topic that allows you to relate the film(s) to larger issues involving Africa. Some examples might be "The Image of Polygamy in the Films of Ousmane Sembène," "Islam in Three Films from West Africa," "Female Circumcision in Films from Africa," "Sembène's Film Adaptations of His Novels - Xala," "Clothing in African Film," "North African Women's Empowerment," etc., etc. Most of you will probably need to look to films in addition to those we see in our series; I'll be able to loan those to you.

I'd like you to decide on a topic by the end of the second week. Though you'll need to do some outside research for this paper, the focus will be on the films themselves. You'll share the results of your project with the rest of the class during the last week.

(d) Final. You'll be writing a take-home final essay, which I'll be handing out on July 27, to be handed in on August 1. It will be an essay that will allow you to synthesize what we've studied throughout the term.

ATTENDANCE: For obvious reasons, regular attendance is essential. If you have to miss a class, see me in advance, and we'll see what we can do.

CONFERENCES: Any time you'd like to talk things over, please feel free to set up an appointment with me. Also, I'll usually be in Miller 436 an hour before class. If you have any questions or ideas to try out on me at any time day or night, you can call me at 978-5213; leave a message on my voice mail and I'll phone you back. Email is another good way of reaching me.

I'll also be setting up individual conferences when it's time for you to decide on your term project.

GRADES: Final grades will be determined as follows:

50% Journal and Responses to Study Questions

25% Term Project

20% Final

5% Class Participation

You must do all the assignments in order to pass the course.

Please let me know if you have any special needs that I should know about. I'll do my best to accommodate you and make this class memorable, illuminating, and satisfying for you!

Now, let's have a great, thought-provoking semester!

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