The African Studies Center at Michigan State University has re-initiated the
AFRICAN MEDIA PROGRAM (AMP), with the financial support of the U.S.
Department of Education and the university. We have launched a major
effort to index, annotate, and critique the A-V media concerning Africa and
to identify the high quality documentary film, cinema, and television images
of Africa amidst a vast amount of inaccurate, dated, and stereotypical films
in the marketplace. We also will be active in disseminating this
information to users of media concerning Africa.
In re-inaugurating this program, we shall build on public praise and
criticism for AFRICA ON FILM AND VIDEOTAPE: A COMPENDIUM
OF REVIEWS (1982), in which we listed several thousand productions and
critiqued almost 700. Now, we are in the midst of creating a new definitive
reference database by identifying, indexing, and critically reviewing extant
films and videos on Africa between 1981 and 1996. We expect to continue
with this ongoing project. Media reviews will be based on critiques by
African colleagues and other country and subject area specialists.
These reviews, with filmographies, will be disseminated electronically over
the WWWeb and also published in both compact disk (CD-ROM) and print
formats. We will also index and annotate other educational A-V media,
including transparencies, filmstrips, slides, CD-ROMs, and maps.
We value your participation and welcome your assistance with this project
by:
- alerting us about forthcoming African media productions or
activities in your field or area;
- sending us reviews and articles or references concerning any
media on Africa;
- identifying new media that should be given high priority for review;
- critiquing our reviews as they appear and giving us your reviews for
including in our WWWebsite;
- noting problems or errors you have found in our 1982 AFRICA
ON FILM AND VIDEOTAPE Compendium that we should correct
in the new electronic and print publications (e.g., errors in style,
format, content, balance, etc.); and
- loaning us copies of films and videos for review.
A driving goal of the AMP is to increase the quality and quantity of
research and teaching about Africa. Specifically, our goal is to encourage
the use of realistic and appropriate audio-visual materials pertaining to
Africa in: graduate film and literary studies; the full range of graduate
and undergraduate African studies (in general education, disciplinary, and
area studies courses), and secondary and elementary curricula. Although the
Program will focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, North African materials also will
be included.
Sincerely,
Laura Arntson, Ph.D.
Coordinator, African Media Program
John Metzler, Ph.D.
Co-Director, African Media Program
Coordinator, Outreach Program, African Studies Center
David Wiley
Director, African Studies Center and African Media Program
Professor of Sociology
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
African Media Program
African Studies Center - Michigan State University
100 Center for International Programs
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1035, U.S.A.
phone: 517-432-0057 - fax: 517-432-1209
e-mail: afrmedia@pilot.msu.edu
In-Reply-To: 199608292312.TAA01425@dag.XC.Org