National Cinema (351-0-20)

Topic

Central American Cinema

Instructors

Nathaniel Rossi

Meeting Info

Louis Hall 119: Wed 3:00PM - 5:50PM

Overview of class

This course serves as an introduction and historical overview of cinema production in Central America (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama). A region with a much younger film industry than other parts of Latin America, the first unit of the course will consider how Central American Cinema was born out of war and conflict. We will cover how documentary filmmaking and photography became a way to "witness" and provide evidence of the multiple conflicts that engulfed the region in the 1970s and 1980s. The second unit of the course will consider how contemporary film production negotiates how these wars are remembered, as well as how filmmakers use cinema to navigate current political movements in the region in relation to economic inequality, environmental crises, and Indigenous, women's and LGBTQ rights. We will consider the role of "filmmakers as activist" and examine the relationship between memory, state violence, and visual cultures.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss how prominent themes in Central American cinema relate to particular historical moments, industrial factors, and cultural beliefs and values
• Evaluate the role of contemporary Central American filmmakers and their responses to current social, political, and environmental crises
• Read and understand challenging critical and historical arguments about Central American cinema
• Gain textual analysis or close-reading skills; Use these skills in a midterm and final essay that address major course themes

Class Materials (Required)

Required Text: I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala, by Rigoberta Menchú
ISBN: 978-1844674183

Class Notes

Content Note: This course deals with themes that include war, political violence, and Indigenous genocide.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Radio/TV/Film Major and Minor Students until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.