Black Film in The Diaspora

Catalog description

Contemporary African and Black Diasporic Filmmaking Exploring films made between 1980 and the present day, this course aims to highlight Black filmmakers from a range of African, Caribbean, and European countries as well as the United States and United Kingdom whose films represent a variety of diasporic positions–whether those of recent immigrants, those based in diaspora for many generations, or those based on the African continent. Exploring films including Gessica Geneus’ Freda (2021), Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (2022), and Martine Syms’ The African Desperate (2022) and informed by a queer, Black feminist lens, the course focuses heavily on the perspectives of women, representations of queerness, and other experiences outside of those of dominant groups. Rather than a definitive survey of contemporary African and Black diasporic film, the course offers a curated selection of works whose themes include girlhood, migration, spirituality, and the quotidian. Focusing on fiction films, the course will also engage experimental films and music videos. Class meetings will be enhanced by visits from filmmakers (TBC).