One –day conference – June 7, 2012 Postcolonial Cinema Studies

What is, or what might constitute, ‘Postcolonial cinema studies?’ This one-day conference does not propose ‘postcolonial cinema’ as a genre or wish to essentialise it by fitting it into a taxonomy. It envisions instead ‘postcolonial cinema’ in relation to dynamic departures from colonial paradigms of knowledge and power. The participants in this conference focus on the elaboration and deployment of a postcolonial lens and on the nature of cinematic engagement with audiences through that lens. It explores ‘postcolonial cinema’ as constituted by and within a conceptual space in which making connection and drawing inferences, specifically those that are occluded by national and colonial frames, is encouraged. The conference is organized to celebrate the publication of Postcolonial Cinema Studies edited by Sandra Ponzanesi and Marguerite Waller (London and New York, Routledge, 2011).

"Postcolonial Cinema Studies is an essential book that orchestrates an enriching dialogue between postcolonial studies and cinema studies, in ways that mutually illuminate both fields. Interdisciplinary and transnational, the volume goes beyond the usual Anglo-phone boundaries. Not only does it stretch the corpus of films to be studied, it also productively counterpoints theories, methodologies, and regions." Ella Shohat, New York University, USA and Robert Stam, Tisch School of the Arts, USA

Programme-  Morning: Drift 21 (Sweelinckzaal, room 0.05)

9.00-9.30         Coffee
9.30-9.40         Welcoming words

Prof. Frank Kessler (Director Research Institute for History and Culture/ Prof. of Media History, Utrecht University)

9.40-10.20       Introduction to Postcolonial Cinema Studies
Sandra Ponzanesi (Utrecht University) and Marguerite Waller (University of California, Riverside, USA)

10.20-10.40     Response
Ella Shohat (New York University, USA) and
Robert Stam (Tisch School of the Arts, USA)

10.40-11.20     Unpeople: postcolonial reflections on terror, torture and
                      detention in Children of Men
Shohini Chaudhuri (University of Essex, UK)

11.20-12.00     Postcolonial relationalities in Philippe Faucon’s Dans la vie
Mireille Rosello (University of Amsterdam)

12.00-12.40     Spectral postcoloniality: lusophone postcolonial film and
                      the imaginary of the nation.
Paulo de Medeiros (Utrecht University)

12.40-14.00     Lunch break

Programme-  Afternoon: U-Theater, Kromme Nieuwegracht 20

14.00-14.40     The postcolonial circus: Maurizio Nichetti’s Luna e l’altra
Marguerite Waller (University of California, Riverside, USA)

14.40-15.20     Postcolonial adaptations: gained and lost in translation
Sandra Ponzanesi

15.20-15.50     Presentation of the Film: 
                      Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs –  
                      The Iraqi Connection (Dir. Samir, 2003)
Ella Shohat (New York University, USA)

15.50-17.45     Screening Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs – The Iraqi Connection

17.45-18.00     Q&A

18.00-19.00     Closing & Drinks

Free of charge, for registration and information please mail: s.ponzanesi@uu.nl