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African Films in the Classroom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Josef Gugler
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Abstract:

A wealth of excellent films from Africa is readily available for classroom use, even if much of Anglophone Africa remains poorly represented. African films can serve to challenge students' assumptions and to foster a critical examination of Western films set in Africa. Extending the scope of conventional “African” courses to North Africa adds a substantial body of notable productions, some of which address current concerns such as Islamic fundamentalism. African films have to be contextualized; even when they are examined as works of art and as examples of world cinema, full appreciation requires that they be considered in their historical and cultural contexts. When films are used to introduce students to Africa, critical examination is imperative—audiences that have little factual information about Africa all too readily assume that fiction and fact coincide.

Résumé:

Résumé:

On peut noter qu'il y a pléthore d'excellents films africains disponibles pour les études en classe, même si le cinéma de l'Afrique anglophone est encore très peu représenté. Les films africains peuvent servir à mettre en question les préjugés des étudiants et à encourager tin examen critique des films occidentaux utilisant un cadre africain. Pour les cours sur l'Afrique, l'inclusion de l'Afrique du Nord ajoute un nombre important de productions notables, dont certaines abordent des sujets d'actualité tel le fondamentalisme islamique. Les films africains doivent être situés dans leur contexte; même lorsqu'ils sont présentéd strictement en tant qu'œuvres artistiques, une appréciation véritable demande qu'ils soient examinés dans leur contexte historique et culturel. Pour les étudiants introduits à l'Afrique par le moyen du cinéma, il est impératif de les diriger vers une analyse critique—un public qui a peu d'information sur l'Afrique prend trop facilement la fiction pour la réalité.

Type
Research Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 53 , Issue 3 , December 2010 , pp. 1 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2010

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