Frieda Ekotto Knihy

The book critically re-evaluates the influence of French and Francophone cultural figures on race relations in the U.S., exploring connections between iconic writers like Jean Genet and Aime Cesaire and prominent African-American activists such as James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry. By utilizing previously untapped archival records, it argues that a fresh understanding of the "French Atlantic"—encompassing regions like Quebec and the French Caribbean—can transform contemporary ideas about race and sexuality across the Atlantic.

In 1968, Argentinean filmmakers Fernando Solanas and Octavio Getino introduced the theory of "Third Cinema," a revolutionary genre aimed at countering global oppression. This "guerilla cinema" sought to challenge the dominance of Western cinema, distinguishing itself from First Cinema (commercial Hollywood) and Second Cinema. Third Cinema was envisioned as a tool for liberation, particularly for regions affected by European imperialism, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This collection of essays addresses contemporary interpretations of Third Cinema, exploring how new national cinemas and their media industries reflect societal concerns amid rapid modernization. It examines the configuration of these concerns within new aesthetic genres and questions the existence of a Third Cinema component in today's film landscape. By revisiting the concept through the lens of film and media studies, the essays delve into themes such as modernism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. This work is particularly relevant for cinema practitioners and theorists, as well as scholars in comparative literature, history, and cultural studies, offering insights into the evolving nature of cinema in a global context.