VM 416 - South African Cinemas

Credits: 4
The formation of the South African film industry began at the turn of the twentieth century. It is an industry founded upon racial exclusion, part and parcel of the colonial and apartheid projects. In 1994, as South Africa made its historic transition to multiracial democracy, the nation’s first black majority government set about creating a vibrant, socially engaged film industry that could contribute to economic development and job creation given the high levels of inequality. In this course, we will examine the ways in which national and transnational forces have shaped the representation of race and nation in South African films produced since the formation of the industry up to the present. The focus will be on the analysis of cinematic texts informed by the political economic structure of the industry and film culture.

Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): VM 200
Course Restrictions: Junior standing
Liberal Arts Perspective(s):
Foundations Requirement(s):