Contemporary Black American Cinema

Contemporary Black American Cinema offers a fresh collection of essays on African American film, media, and visual culture in the era of global multiculturalism. Integrating theory, history, and criticism, the contributing authors deftly connect interdisciplinary perspectives from American studies, cinema studies, cultural studies, political science, media studies, and Queer theory. This multidisciplinary methodology expands the discursive and interpretive registers of film analysis. From Paul Robeson's and Sidney Poitier's star vehicles to Lee Daniels's directorial forays, these essays address the career legacies of film stars, examine various iterations of Blaxploitation and animation, question the comedic politics of fat suit films, and celebrate the innovation of avant-garde and experimental cinema. Review: 'Appropriate for any collection of texts dealing with African American studies, cultural studies, and film or media studies, Contemporary Black American Cinema is a fascinating and diverse collection of essays...it is undoubtedly a valuable asset for any library striving to maintain a collection of current and significant works on race and representation.' Cate Blouke, English and Third World Literatures Review of Books