Required Watching

Why Black Film History Was Never Taught Like This


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This is a deep dive into the mechanics of how history is written, how "canons" are formed, and what we lose when we erase the origin stories of pioneering artists.


DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:


- The Question: Why Don't We Learn This in School?


- What is "The Canon" and Who Decides?


- The Four Filters: Archives, Academia, Criticism, and Commerce


- The Cost of Erasure: What We Lose


- What Early Black Cinema Teaches Us Today


ASKED & ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE:


Why isn't early Black film history taught in film schools?

How does a film become a classic?

What is the film canon and who creates it?

Why are so many early Black films lost?

What can modern filmmakers learn from Oscar Micheaux?

To understand the history we're discussing, watch our video on the pioneers of Black cinema

Required Watching is your curriculum for cinematic literacy. We deconstruct the art and craft of filmmaking to help you become a sharper storyteller.

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