Lectures.

Film Talk - Black Horror 102: Contemporary Fear and Its Cultural Impact (1980s–Present)

October 16th, 2024

The second class of Reel Black: A Horror Primer will explore the resurgence and redefinition of Black horror in the 20th century. We will study the rise of influential filmmakers like Jordan Peele, whose Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) have brought Black horror to the forefront of popular culture. The class will also discuss the role of Black horror in addressing contemporary issues such as systemic racism, identity, and trauma. Films like Candyman (1992 & 2021) and His House (2020) will be highlighted to illustrate how Black horror continues to challenge and expand the genre's boundaries.

SIFF Cinemas

Film Talk - Black Horror 101: Origins and Early Representations (1900s–1970s)

October 9th

In the first class, we will delve into the early history of Black horror, focusing on its origins in early 20th-century cinema and its progression through the decades. We will analyze the portrayal of Black characters in horror films, often rooted in stereotypes, and how Black filmmakers and writers began reclaiming the genre. Key works like Son of Ingagi (1940), Blacula (1972), and Ganja & Hess (1973) will be examined to understand the sociopolitical context and the resistance these films represented against dominant narratives.

SIFF Cinemas

Afro-horror and the Oppositional Gaze

July 23, 2024

Ethics in Storytelling - Communications Department of the University of Washington

History of Horror Films

October 3-31, 2024

An in-depth, 5-week exploration of the fascinating and chilling world of horror films. Designed for adult learners, this course traces the evolution of horror cinema, from its origins to modern-day classics. Through a combination of lectures, screenings, discussions, and analysis, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical, cultural, and artistic aspects of horror films. Emphasizing critical thinking and contextualization, this curriculum aims to engage and educate adult learners with a passion for the macabre.

Cinema Dissection: Nope

March 16, 2024

Embark on a captivating academic journey with our class dedicated to the exploration of Jordan Peele's 2022 film Nope. This Cinema Dissection goes beyond the surface of cinematic entertainment, delving into the deeper layers of social commentary, symbolism, and narrative complexity that define Nope as a cinematic marvel.

Engage in lively discussions with fellow students as we dissect the directorial choices, thematic elements, and cultural impact of this thought-provoking film that subverts the modern spectacle movie. This event is designed for film enthusiasts and scholars alike, offering a comprehensive examination of how cinema serves as a mirror to society.

This Cinema Dissection is facilitated by Alien Superstar (and Artistic director of Seattle Black Film Festival) Isabella Price, and is in conjunction with our screenings of Nope and our March Monster Madness series.

Reel Black: Candyman & Urban Hauntings

October 14, 2021

Investigate the original Candyman and the 2021 remake, especially ways the original suffers from a lack of Black voices behind the camera and how the ghetto functions as a haunted house. Taught by Isabella Price.

What The Femme: Rage!

February 23, 2021

Rage is often viewed in society as being one of the worst things a woman can express. Anger is an ugly emotion, a masculine emotion, one that is only justifiable if it's coming from a man. In media, there are many examples of male rage, of men getting revenge usually for the death and harm of the women in their lives, but few examples of the opposite. When female rage is shown on screen, more often than not, it is a woman getting revenge against one man who hurt her. In movies like Kill Bill, Widows, Peppermint, and Coffy, these women would not be normally revenge-seeking but are pushed by the actions of the men around them. Why can't women be the owners of their own rage? Is it possible for a woman to want to hurt people, unjustifiably, just because she wants it or it pleases her? Would we as a society be able to accept a woman like that? In this class, we will discuss the racial divide between depictions of rage, real-world examples of female violence, and why violent women rarely have a happily ever after.

Reel Black: Barry Jenkins and Black Skin in Color

February 16, 2021

Director Barry Jenkins has cemented himself as one of the most creative, original, and empathetic storytellers of our time with his stellar breakout films, Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk. These films tell wholly compassionate stories of Black life from a perspective not seen in many Hollywood films. One of the touchstones of Jenkins' films is his incredible use of colors. Whether through the neon glow of Miami beaches in Moonlight or the ochre haze of New York City streets in If Beale Street Could Talk, Jenkins' use of color is part of his storytelling process. In this class, we will discuss how to use color to tell a story, the history of discrimination in color photography, and the ways in which Jenkins' changed the depiction of Black skin on film.

Reel Black: Us and the Separation of the Black Self

October 27, 2020

If you meet your doppelgänger, misfortune will shortly follow. Jordan Peele’s Us explores the lives of two families, one living in the relative safety and comfort that America has to offer and the other which lives in relative invisibility, with each a reflection of the other. The film effectively mines the juxtaposition of the haves and the have nots, especially in the characters of Adelaide and Red: two Black women who struggle for dominance and survival, each divided along psychological lines. Film scholar Isabella Price leads this deep inquiry into how Us brilliantly displays the way Black American women are often asked to split themselves between the inner and outer world, separating their genuine and public selves in a battle for authenticity.