Documenting the African City

Catalog description

"...you discover the art through the place and the place through the art". Most African cities have been independent from colonial rule for less than 7 decades. African cities are "multi-synchronicity". "Documenting the African city", acknowledges the creative skills and expertise of students in the arts and media and builds upon that by introducing additional skills of documentary filmmaking, to allow students further explore their talents and crafts. The setting of an African city which is rapidly developing, yet slowly changing, gives students access to a cultural tapestry, an infinite visual and aural experience, the African experience, to give new meaning to students’ individual practices. This course encourages students to harness their skills of constant editing in their lives, consciously or unconsciously, by employing, this time around, a very technical tool (editing software) to tell their audio-visual stories in more compelling ways. Students are introduced to the video camera, the basic science of its operations in capturing images in different ways, the tools and tricks needed to execute basic and slightly complex visual styles, forms and movements. Students are also introduced to location sound recording using professional equipment to enhance their storytelling capabilities. The course fosters deep and meaningful interactions with the locals and deeper insight into cultural practices through research of themes, ideas and topics for productions. This course is open to NYUAD MFA students only.