24 NQF credits at NQF level 8
Convener: Associate Professor M Evans
Course entry requirements: Acceptance for an honours programme.
Description:
This course aims to provide students with a theoretical and historical overview of film and media archives, as well as practical experience in producing research based on archival study. In many respects, African archives are still shaped by colonial practices of assembling, indexing and display, and digitisation does not resolve the many ethical issues associated with them. Archives are not just resources but represent a practice, the act of searching, and discovering, and then the ethical deliberation of how to use the material. Knowledge and research – at first glance – the least controversial aspects of the archive, cannot be taken for granted in discussions about digitised archives in Africa. Students will be introduced to research around the history of archives, particularly in Africa, theories relating to the construction and destruction of archives, and also contemporary discussions and practices around access to and the use of archive materials in the fields of film and media. The course will culminate in a practical assignment where students can apply their skills to, or make use of, a film or media archive.
DP requirements: At least 80% attendance and submission of all work.
Assessment:
One essay based on theory and history components of the course (40%); One journal comprising four entries of 800 words each (10%); One project including a written proposal (50%).