How text reflects context: representation of African film audiences in 'Aristotle's Plot'

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Periodical article

Title:	How text reflects context: representation of African film audiences in 'Aristotle's Plot'
Author:	De Groof, Matthias
Year:	2013
Periodical:	Journal of African Cinemas (ISSN 1754-923X)
Volume:	5
Issue:	2
Pages:	181-202
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Africa Cameroon
Subjects:	films filmmakers audiences African identity
About person:	Jean-Pierre Bekolo
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1386/jac.5.2.181_1
Abstract:	This article analyzes how 'Aristotle's Plot' (Le complot d'Aristote, 1996), a film directed by Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Cameroon), reflects on the context of filmmaking and film reception in Africa. 'Aristotle's Plot' represents the relation between an African filmmaker and African film audiences consuming foreign movies and disapproving African cinema. The problem of how the production and consumption of African cinema is affected by the importation of films crafted elsewhere cannot be reduced to the question how to make African films available for their audiences. Neither can the problem solely be posed in terms of the alienation of African audiences and filmmakers. In 'Aristotle's Plot', Bekolo caricatures both the African filmmaker (E.T.) and African audiences (Cinema) and thereby translates two views on spectatorship. However, the film itself suggests a perspective on spectatorship and filmmaking beyond the opposition of appropriation on the one hand and alienation on the other. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [Journal abstract]