Black Women Film and Video Artists (AFI Film Readers) [Paperback]

Jacqueline Bobo (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415920426 | ISBN-13: 978-0415920421 | Publication Date: April 11, 1998 | Edition: 1

Black women film and video makers have been producing shorts, documentaries and films since the early part of this century. Unfortunately, not only has their work been overlooked by distributors, but critical reviews have been few and far between. Conceived to redress that omission, Black Women Film and Video Artists is the first comprehensive history and analysis of this genre. Gathered here are noted scholars and critics, as well as the film/video makers themselves who offer insight into the work of underexplored artists. The discussions range from pioneering to contemporary film makers and include artists such as Madeline Anderson, Monica Freeman, Jacqueline Shearer, Kathleen Collins, Julie Dash, Camille Billops, Zeinabu Irene Davis, and Michelle Parkerson, among others.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Black Women Film & Video Artists is a long-overdue anthology that documents the underacknowledged, yet significant, accomplishments of women filmmakers, scholars, and film technicians.
–Cineaste

About the Author

Jacqueline Bobo is Associate Professor in the Women's Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of Black Women as Cultural Readers (1995).

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (April 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415920426
• ISBN-13: 978-0415920421
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Volume on Black Women in Film, January 6, 2001

By 

Ibochild (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Women Film and Video Artists (AFI Film Readers) (Paperback)

This book should be required reading for any student of American cinema. All too often, independent filmmakers (particularly women) are ignored in other books. When they are mentioned, the discussion is limited to only one or two people. This is because many of the films are rarely shown outside of film festivals (and occassionally cable). Black women filmmakers did not start with Gina Prince-Bythewood (LOVE AND BASKETBALL), Kasi Lemmons (EVE'S BAYOU) or even Julie Dash (DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST). In reality, it started long before any of these women were even born. This book tells the story through essays and often through their own words of the struggles of Black women film and video makers. What is also great about this book is the comprehensive video/filmography in the rear of the volume. It includes not only feature films, but numerous shorts as well (including important student projects). Importantly, it also lists the distributors of these films, so that others may discover them. Filmmakers mentioned in the book that have gone on into features include Zeinabu irene Davis (COMPENSATION which screened at Sundance in 2000) and Cauleen Smith (Urbanworld Fest Winner for DRYLONGSO). These and films like them need to be seen by a wider audience. Hopefully, this book will inspire people to seek them out and to encourage this and other women to make more wonderful films.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A wonderful book on Black Women Filmmakers., December 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Black Women Film and Video Artists (AFI Film Readers) (Paperback)

There has been a large desire to know more about the thoughts, history, and films of Black Women Filmmakers. This anthology edited by Jacqueline Bobo, covers areas from the early pioneers such as Eloyce Gist in the 1920's to the current rung of documentary, animation, and narrative filmmakers in the United States. Some of the filmmakers covered are Jacqueline Shearer, (Eyes on the Prize) Carol Munday Lawrence (Kwanzaa series), and Michelle Parkerson ("...But Then She's Betty Carter", "Gotta Make This Journey:Sweet Honey in the Rock"," A Lithany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde")