CFP: Class in African Literature and Film -African Literature Association Conference 2017, at Yale University, June 14-17

Olorunshola (Shola) adenekan Discussion
Type: 
Call for Papers
Date: 
October 25, 2016 to November 15, 2016
Location: 
Connecticut, United States
Subject Fields: 
Literature, African History / Studies, Film and Film History

 Class in African Literature and Film:

Our panel seeks to address an under-theorization of class in African literature and film. Almost all of the previous studies on class in Africa looked at the issue of class identity and class consciousness through the lens of Marxism. Moving away from this, our panel seeks to shed new lights on class consciousness, class identity and class performance in African literature as well as the rest of the creative arts - theatre, the video industry and the cinema. Wai Chee Dimock and Michael T. Gilmore (1994: ix), argue that class is not “a merely privileged analytic category here; it is itself an analyzable artefact, itself to be scrutinized, contextualized, critiqued for its commissions and omissions” We think it is appropriate to examine how African writers, film producers, playwrights, script-writers and other creative artists depict class identities in their works and how (or if) these portrayals capture lived experiences, since we often cite creative works as historical and anthropological evidence. We are interested in papers that seek to analyse class structures in many African societies, before colonialism, during the project of colonial modernity and after colonial rule, including the 21st Century. We are also interested in issues that are connected to, or are intersected by class identity . We also welcome papers that look at class within online and diasporic spaces. Please email an abstract of about 200 words and an indication of any requests for audio-visual equipments to Dr Shola Adenekan at adenekan@uni-bremen.de Deadline is November 10, 2016.

Contact Info: 
Dr Shola Adenekan
Faculty 10 - English Speaking Cultures
University of Bremen
Bremen, Germany
Contact Email: