Name: ________________________________________________
California State University, Northridge
Spring 2008
English 495AFL: African Film and Literature
Instructor: Ian Barnard, Ph.D. <http://www.csun.edu/~ib5991>
Office Hours in ST 834: M 3:30-4:30 p.m., and by appt.
Email Office Hours: ian.barnard@csun.edu
Course Description:
This senior seminar will engage with selected texts by African writers and filmmakers in
the contexts of postcolonial, feminist, and other theoretical frameworks. You will reflect
on African film and literary traditions, histories, politics, and aesthetics; learn to analyze
and write about film; refine your research skills; and practice analyzing and writing about
literature.
Student Learning Outcomes:
You will
 Understand the political, historical, and aesthetic contexts of African film and
literature
 Develop in-depth, sophisticated analyses of selected African film and literary
texts through critical reading/viewing/writing/discussion
 Practice and refine your ability to analyze and write about literature using
secondary sources effectively
 Learn and practice how to analyze and write about film using secondary sources
effectively
Required Texts:
Books (available at the Matador Bookstore):
1. Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Anchor.
2. Aidoo, Ama Ata. No Sweetness Here. The Feminist Press at CUNY.
3. Coetzee, J. M. Foe. Penguin.
4. Corrigan, Timothy. A Short Guide to Writing About Film. 6th ed.
5. Ousmane, Sembène. Gods Bits of Wood. Heinemann, 1995 ed.
Films (available on Media Reserve in the Oviatt Library):
1. Faat Kine.
2. Karmen Geï.
3. Long Night’s Journey Into Day.
4. Mapantsula.
5. 100 Days.
6. Sia.
In addition, you should plan to spend time and money attending film screenings at the
Los Angles Pan-African Film and Arts Festival (I have canceled one week of classes to
enable you to attend the festival).
Course Requirements and Grade Distribution:
2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Collaborative presentation
Blog
Participation
Seminar Paper
Map Quiz
20%
35%
5%
35%
5%
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
9993- 90- 87- 83- 80- 77- 73- 70- 67- 63- 60- 0100% 98% 92% 89% 86% 82% 79% 76% 72% 69% 66% 62% 59%
Attendance
I expect you to attend all class meetings (including online classes, if applicable). If you
miss more than four class meetings, I will lower your final course grade.
Participation
Since this is a discussion-based course, I expect you to read/view all assigned texts
carefully and critically and participate vigorously in class discussions. Obviously you
need to be prepared for class in order to participate effectively, and you cannot participate
effectively if you miss class, arrive late for class, or leave class early.
Collaborative Presentation
You and a partner will give an oral presentation on a topic related to our course texts in
order to give class members background and contextual information that will enrich their
engagement with the texts. You will need to research multiple sources in order to decide
what information to present about your topic, and should indicate in your presentation
where you got your information. Your presentation should include one digital medium to
illustrate what you are saying (i.e., a website, a video clip, music). Obviously you cannot
give a comprehensive discussion of your topic; you will need to decide which
information is the most pertinent in the context of this course. The presentation should
last about 15 minutes. I will evaluate your presentation based on how well you and your
partner work together, how effectively you choose and present your material, and how
well you integrate multimedia components into the presentation. I will post your
presentation score on WebCT and email you a prose evaluation of your presentation
within a week of the presentation. You are welcome to meet with me before your
presentation date in order to discuss your presentation ideas.
Seminar Paper (about 10 pages, excluding Works Cited)
Write an essay about one of the films/books we have read/watched in this class, or about
one aspect of a book/film, or about a theme you see in several of the films/books, or
about an issue we have addressed in class that you wish to trace in several of the
films/books we’ve studied. If you wish, you may develop your paper from one of your
blog entries. Your paper should have a title and thesis (whether explicit or implicit) and
should not read as a collection of unconnected points about your chosen text(s). Give
specific examples/quotes from the text(s) you are analyzing, and discuss these
quotes/examples in detail. Your paper should be written for a scholarly audience of
3
readers who have read/seen the class texts but who are not necessarily members of our
class.
Since you are entering into a scholarly conversation about the texts we have
studied, you need to research what others have written about them and the issues around
them. Undergraduate students should engage with at least one outside scholarly source in
your paper; graduate students should engage with at least two outside scholarly sources in
your paper. You may also use additional non-scholarly sources judiciously. Remember
to explain how your evidence from your primary and secondary sources support your
thesis--don't simply make a claim and then give a quote from the primary or secondary
source. This assumes that your reader interprets the source the same way you do.
Explain what the evidence means. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your thinking.
We will discuss effective ways of using sources in class. Cite primary and secondary
sources according to MLA format, and conclude your paper with a list of Works Cited
that follows MLA format (primary and secondary sources should appear on this list,
including any films you refer to).
You will get feedback on your paper draft/ideas from me and/or colleagues before
you turn in the final revised paper. You will post the final paper on WebCT, so may
include links, images, etc. as part of your paper. I will lower your paper grade if you turn
in the draft or revision late without prior permission from me.
Course Policies:
 Disability Issues: Please see me early in the semester if you require academic
accommodations based on a documented disability.
 Email: I usually acknowledge all email messages within 24 hours. If you email
me but don’t get a response, I haven’t received your email. Feel free to email me
concerning any questions you have about the course or about your work. Be sure
to include a salutation, signature, and appropriate subject heading in your email
message. Do not email your assignments to me for feedback; I’d be happy to
discuss your work with you in person.
 Recording Of Classes: I do not permit recording of class sessions.
 Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a contested and context-specific topic. We will discuss
effective ways of using sources and issues around plagiarism in class.
4
Blog
Create a blog at blogger.com (or at another blog site). You will post the URL for your
blog on WebCT. Write your blog with a general audience in mind--remember that it can
be read by anyone. The prompts for the seven required blog entries appear below. You
may add additional blog entries if you wish. Your blog should include at least one sound
file (see gabcast.com) and at least two images. I will evaluate your blog holistically at
the end of the semester based on a) its visual appeal and effectiveness as a piece of media
literacy, b) the thoughtfulness and quality of writing of your assigned blog entries, and c)
the quality of your engagement with colleagues’ assigned blog entries in your responses
to them. You will lose points if you post blog entries or responses to colleagues’ blog
entries late. I will give you informal feedback on your blog early in the semester.
Undergraduate students: each blog entry should be about three paragraphs long; each
response to a colleague’s assigned blog entry should be about a paragraph long
Graduate students: each blog entry should be about four paragraphs long; each
response to a colleague’s assigned blog entry should be at least a paragraph long
Blog #1
Choose one character from the first 13 chapters of Things Fall Apart. Give a sketch of
this character, supporting what you say with specific examples from the reading. Post
your blog entry by noon on 1/29. Respond to three or more class members’ assigned
blog entries by noon on 1/30.
Blog #2
Write short reviews of the programs you saw at the Pan-African Film and Arts Festival
and give your impressions of the festival as a whole. Note that you must see at least two
programs of African films at the festival. If you are not able to attend the festival, see me
well before the deadline to arrange an alternative assignment. Post your blog entry by
noon on 2/17. Your blog should include at least two images by this time. Respond to
three or more class members’ assigned blog entries by noon on 2/18.
Blog #3
Choose one of the stories that you have read from No Sweetness Here, and retell the
events in the story from the perspective of one of the characters in the story--you should
write in the first person as if you were that character! Post your blog entry by noon on
2/19. Respond to three or more class members’ assigned blog entries by noon on 2/20.
Blog #4
Discuss one technical aspect of Faat Kine that you found particularly interesting or
effective or problematic. Make specific references to the film and use the terminology
discussed in Chapter 3 of Corrigan’s book. Post your blog entry by noon on 3/9. Your
blog should include at least one sound file by this time. Respond to three or more class
members’ assigned blog entries by noon on 3/10.
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Blog #5
Write about any aspect of 100 Days or your reaction to the film. Be sure to refer to
specific examples/scenes/shots from the film. Post your blog entry by noon on 3/23.
Respond to three or more class members’ assigned blog entries by noon on 3/24.
Blog #6
Discuss any one paragraph from the second half of God’s Bits of Wood. Talk about what
you see as the significance of this paragraph in the context of the novel as a whole; give
quotes from or make specific references to your chosen paragraph as you discuss it in
detail. Do not choose the same paragraph as someone else in the class. Post your blog
entry by noon on 4/6. Respond to three or more class members’ assigned blog entries by
noon on 4/7.
Blog #7
How do you interpret the final chapter of Foe? Be sure to give specific quotes from this
chapter and to situate the chapter in the context of the rest of the novel. Post your blog
entry by noon on 4/15. Respond to three or more class members’ assigned blog entries
by noon on 4/16.
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Tentative Schedule
Wednesday, 1/23/08
Introduction to the course
Stereotypes of Africa; African countries
Discussion of map quiz
Discussion of syllabus
Monday, 1/28/08 (meet in JR 248)
African history; African literature
Creating a blog
Discussion of blog assignment
Introduction to Chinua Achebe
Homework for next class:
Work on Blog #1
Read Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Chapters 1-13
Wednesday, 1/30/08
Discussion of Things Fall Apart
Assign presentations
Homework for next class:
Read Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Chapters 14-25
Monday, 2/4/08
Discussion of Things Fall Apart
Homework for next class:
Read Corrigan, A Short Guide to Writing About Film, Chapters 1-2
Wednesday, 2/6/08
How to read a film
Discussion of reading
Introduction to Los Angeles Pan-African Film and Arts Festival
Monday, 2/11/08
No class--attend Pan-African Film and Arts Festival
Wednesday, 2/13/08
No class--attend Pan-African Film and Arts Festival
Homework for next class:
Work on Blog #2
7
Monday, 2/18/08
Discussion of Pan-African Film and Arts Festival
History of African filmmaking
Discussion sample blog entries and responses
Collaborative presentation on Ama Ata Aidoo
Homework for next class:
Read Aidoo, No Sweetness Here, pp. 1-74
Work on Blog #3
Wednesday, 2/20/08
Discussion of No Sweetness Here
Homework for next class:
Read Aidoo, No Sweetness Here, pp. 75-160.
Monday, 2/25/08
Discussion of No Sweetness Here
Homework for next class:
Read Corrigan, Chapters 3-4
Wednesday, 2/27/08
Discussion of reading
Collaborative presentation on Sia and Dani Kouyaté
Homework for next class:
Watch Sia
Monday, 3/3/08
Discussion of Sia
Homework for next class:
Read Corrigan, Chapters 5-7
Wednesday, 3/5/08
Discussion of reading
Collaborative presentation on Sembène Ousmane (writer and filmmaker)
Discussion of map quiz
Homework for next class:
Watch Faat Kine
Graduate students: Watch Xala as well
Work on Blog #4
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Monday, 3/10/08
Discussion of Faat Kine
Introduction to Karmen Geï
Homework for next class:
Watch Karmen Geï
Wednesday, 3/12/08
Discussion of Karmen Geï
Collaborative presentation on the Rwandan genocide of 1994
Monday, 3/17/08
Spring Break
Wednesday, 3/19/08
Spring Break
Homework for next class:
Watch 100 Days
Work on Blog #5
Monday, 3/24/08
Discussion of 100 Days
Mid-semester evaluations of course
Homework for next class:
Prepare for map quiz
Bring Corrigan text to class
Wednesday, 3/26/08
Map quiz
Assign seminar paper
Discussion of using sources
Discussion of mid-semester evaluations of course
Introduction to God’s Bits of Wood
Monday, 3/31/08
No class (César Chávez Day)
Wednesday, 4/2/08
No class--work on assignments for next week
Homework for next class:
Read Ousmane, God’s Bits of Wood (whole book)
Work on Blog #6
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Monday, 4/7/08
Discussion of God’s Bits of Wood
Wednesday, 4/9/08
Discussion of God’s Bits of Wood
Introduction to special unit on South Africa
Collaborative presentation on J. M. Coetzee
Homework for next class:
Read Coetzee, Foe, up to p. 152
Monday, 4/14/08
Discussion of Foe
Homework for next class:
Read Coetzee, Foe, pp.153-57
Work on Blog #7
Wednesday, 4/16/08
Discussion of Foe
Collaborative presentation on apartheid in South Africa
Homework for next class:
Watch Mapantsula
Monday, 4/21/08
Discussion of Mapantsula
Discussion of seminar paper topics
Wednesday, 4/23/08
Work on seminar paper
Collaborative presentation on South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Homework for next class:
Watch Long Night’s Journey Into Day
Monday, 4/28/08
Discussion of Long Night’s Journey Into Day
Homework for next class:
Bring a draft of your seminar paper to class or post your draft on WebCT
Wednesday, 4/30/08
Conferences or workshops on seminar paper
10
Monday, 5/5/08
South African soaps and sitcoms
Homework for next class:
Post your revised seminar paper as an attachment on WebCT by 1 p.m. on 5/7/08
Wednesday, 5/7/08
Course synthesis/rupture
Informal presentations on seminar papers
Party?
Write your presentation date, topic, and partner’s name here:
Notes:
Thanks to Aneil Rallin for assistance with this syllabus, and to the Oviatt Library for
purchasing the films.