Dialogic Cinephilia - August 10, 2019

As citizens of a globalized world it is imperative that we begin to develop a broader awareness of the interconnected cultures and societies that influence and shape world events. Anyone remotely aware of the American social/cultural landscape must recognize that many of our citizens are unaware of the broader relations and connections of the world in which they live in. Many Americans tend to have a narrow understanding of world history, educated through ethnocentric American textbooks and informed through mediatized narratives filtered through the lenses of the dominant center, both of these effectively ignore the realities of the margins (culturally, economically and socially). Many concerned citizens struggle to carve out meaning in the contemporary data stream and suffer the neglect of a mainstream media that limits itself to predigested dualistic positions. In this simplified media environment, vast regions of the world are presumed to be unable to speak for themselves and rarely, in the mainstream corporate media that serves as the news for a majority of American citizens, do we receive sustained and in-depth critical analysis of issues through the voices and experiences of multiple interested parties. 
-- Michael Benton

Benton, Michael. "20th Century World Cinema (1)." Dialogic Cinephilia (Future film course or film society schedule)

---.  "Around the World in 15 Films (5)." Dialogic Cinephilia (Future film course or film society schedule)

---. Recommended Films of 2019 Letterboxd (Ongoing Archive)

Davis, Angela, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. "'Toni Morrison Will Always Be with Us.'" Democracy Now (August 7, 2019) ["Toni Morrison, one of the nation’s most influential writers, died this week at the age of 88 from complications of pneumonia. In 1993, Morrison became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for her classic work “Beloved.” Much of Morrison’s writing focused on the Black female experience in America, and her writing style honored the rhythms of Black oral tradition. Her work was deeply concerned with race and history, especially the sin of transatlantic slavery and the potentially restorative power of community. In 2012, President Obama awarded Morrison the Presidential Medal of Freedom. We speak with three legendary writers and close friends of Toni Morrison: Angela Davis, author and activist; Nikki Giovanni, poet, activist and educator; and Sonia Sanchez, award-winning poet."]

Flanagan, Ben. "The Souvenir." Dirty Movies (February 12, 2019)

Heumann, Joseph K. and Robin L. Murray. "Mother! and the Cli-fi Conundrum." Jump Cut #58 (Spring 2018)

Sharrett, Christopher. "They Shall Not Grow Old - But All Shall Perish." Film International (February 10, 2019)