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National Cinema (351-0-23)

Topic

Cinema of the Caribbean & Indian Ocean

Instructors

Michael Anthony Turcios

Meeting Info

Annie May Swift Hall 219: Mon 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

How does Caribbean and Indian Ocean cinema differentiate itself from Hollywood's imagined island culture? How do histories of colonization, slavery, and migration shape the cinema of these aquatic regions? What is "national cinema" in the era of transnational productions?

Build on your historical and geographical comprehension of "national cinema" through a study of island films. The course promotes interdisciplinary methods to query two strands of thought: 1) the relevance and impact of Caribbean and Indian Ocean films to cinematic history, and 2) the category of "national cinema." We will explore the formal, stylistic, and production styles that represent each island and its relation to major film industries. In addition to analyzing the filmic elements, the course enhances your scope of cinema by engaging with topics such as minor and independent cinema production; diasporic film cultures; Indigeneity; environmental degradation; and tourism and leisure.

Our Caribbean focus may include films from Cuba, Martinique, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. We may incorporate films from Mauritius, Reunion Island, Seychelles, and Madagascar in the context of the Indian Ocean.

Learning Objectives

Incorporate cultural and historical contexts of the Caribbean and Indian Ocean when analyzing island films.

Identify the formal and stylistic specificities of island films outside of mainstream contexts.

Articulate the relevance of these cinemas for understanding the social, political, and cultural lived experiences in the islands and regions.

Explain the production, distribution, and exhibition challenges of Caribbean and Indian Ocean Cinema and its relation to "national cinema."

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

Class participation
Paper, midterm
Presentations
Readings
Research project

Class Materials (Required)

Readings are available on Canvas.
Film screenings are incorporated during class time.