Reimagining Kenyan Cinema

Kenya's film industry has grown significantly, with an increase in domestic film productions, screenings, audiences, and festivals. Kenyan actors, actresses, and films are increasingly entering and featuring in global films and markets, connecting with international audiences. There is an upsurge in tertiary institutions training in film and a surge in students pursuing film studies. Reimagining Kenyan Cinema seeks to situate current scholarship on Kenyan Cinema within the debates in national and contemporary global film studies, advocating for diverse methodologies, critical tools, and theoretical perspectives to interrogate Kenyan film. The book will present a synchronic and diachronic approach to the study of Kenyan cinema, with in-depth analyses of particular films, historical moments, and key film texts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc

The film industry in Kenya has experienced remarkable growth and development, particularly in the 21st century. The country has witnessed a significant increase in domestic film productions, screenings, audiences, and festivals, making it one of the major film markets in Africa. Kenyan actors, actresses, and films are gaining recognition on a global scale, participating in international films and markets and connecting with international audiences through commercial cinemas and prestigious international film festivals. This success has been accompanied by an upsurge in tertiary institutions offering film training and an increase in students pursuing film studies both within and outside the country.

In academic circles, there has been a growing interest in Kenyan Cinema as a serious scholarly subject. The evolution of Kenyan Cinema scholarship is also noteworthy, with scholars exploring diverse methodologies, critical tools, and theoretical perspectives to interrogate Kenyan film. Reimagining Kenyan Cinema aims to contribute to this ongoing debate by advocating for a multi-faceted approach that encompasses aesthetics, culture, history, and society.

The book seeks to situate current scholarship on Kenyan Cinema within the broader context of national and contemporary global film studies. It encourages scholars to adopt diverse methodologies, such as close readings, cultural analysis, historical research, and socio-political critique, to examine Kenyan film. By doing so, the book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Kenyan cinema's development, its contributions to African cinema, and its impact on global cinema.

Each chapter in Reimagining Kenyan Cinema will provide in-depth analyses of particular films, historical moments in Kenyan history, and key film texts. The chapters will also explore the broader cultural and social contexts in which Kenyan cinema has emerged and developed. The book will aim to present a simultaneously synchronic and diachronic approach to the study of Kenyan cinema, allowing readers to trace the historical trajectory of the industry and its contributions to African and global cinema.

In conclusion, Reimagining Kenyan Cinema is a valuable contribution to the field of film studies, offering a fresh perspective on the growth and development of Kenyan cinema. By advocating for diverse methodologies, critical tools, and theoretical perspectives, the book encourages scholars to explore the rich and complex history of Kenyan film and its impact on African and global cinema.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 157 x 235 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781433192463
Edition number: New ed