Images of Africa and Africa's Self-Image

What are our current images of Africa? What implicit and explicit colonialist representations persist? How and when do they fall apart? Why is African culture often viewed as “traditional” and thus distinct from contemporary (i.e. Western) culture? In this seminar we will explore how Africa is portrayed in film, folklore, literature for children and adults, popular culture, and mass media, and how these representations shape and are shaped by current and traditional politics, economics, and education. We will consider how Africa itself is negotiating the challenges of self-representation in the 21st-century through specific studies of different countries. 3 hrs. sem.