Multicultural Films: A Reference Guide - Hardcover

Welsch, Janice R.; Adams, J. Q.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313319758 ISBN 13: 9780313319754

Publisher: Greenwood, 2005

Synopsis

From its earliest beginnings, the United States of America has been composed of immigrants from nations around the world. Some, like European Americans, came voluntarily in search of better opportunities. Others, like African Americans, were brought as captives to their new land. Native Americans, already established, were forced to adjust to these new groups and the others that came after them, such as Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and most recently, Arab Americans. How these groups learned, or did not learn, to adapt to one another in their adopted homeland has become the focus of many provocative films, over 150 of which are identified and discussed in this book. Covering films from the earliest part of the century through today, this book is ideal for educators and students searching for films treating the experiences of specific ethnic groups, as well as film fans who love unforgettable stories.

Arranged by race/ethnic group, Multicultural Films identifies and analyzes films relating the experiences of the following groups: African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, Latino/a Americans, Native Americans, and includes Intercultural films, those depicting the experiences of more than one group. After providing a plot summary of each film, the authors critique it, proposing points of focus and discussion for the viewer. Films that will appeal to a variety of different ages are included, with ratings given when possible, and all are currently available for purchase. A thematic guide will help identify films for students and educators on specific topics and issues for each minority group. The first comprehensive resource covering all types of films for all major minority groups in the United States Multicultural Films should be on every film library's shelf.

About this title

About the Author

Janice R. Welsch has taught courses in film criticism and history, Women's Studies, and Multicultural Studies since joining the English and Journalism faculty of Western Illinois University in 1975. She has served as Co-Director of the Expanding Cultural Diversity Project for over ten years and has co-edited Multiple Voices in Feminist Film Criticism. She recently received the Society for Cinema and Media Studies' Service Award for her distinguished contributions to the Society and to the profession.

J. Q. Adams teaches in the Department of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Illinois University. He has worked extensively in the area of multicultural education as a consultant, presenter, and curriculum development specialist in K-12 schools and school systems as well as colleges, universities, and community organizations for over 25 years. In 2004 he was named Outstanding Teacher in the College of Education and Human Services. He co-directs the Expanding Cultural Diversity Project at WIU.

Reviews

It seems an impossible task to narrow such a broad topic to coverage of just 150 films, but in an informative introduction, authors Welsch and Adams successfully define this volume's scope and their criteria for inclusion.

Multiculturalism is defined in terms of race and ethnicity. The book is divided into sections covering films depicting African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, Latino/a Americans, and Native Americans. The last section lists "intercultural" films, in which characters or themes cross ethnic lines. Each section begins with an overview that discusses the history of the particular ethnic group in cinema. The alphabetically arranged film listings include director, casting, length, rating, and a one-line synopsis in addition to an analysis that is between 300 and 400 words in length. Films ranging from the highly controversial D. W. Griffith's 1915 silent epic, Birth of a Nation, to Michael Moore's 2002 Academy Award-winning documentary, Bowling for Columbine, are included, as are several of Ken Burns' documentaries and Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero, the 2002 film in which a variety of people express their religious beliefs in light of the events of 9/11. Most entries include a list of works cited. "Films by Theme," which follows the chapters, is perfect for the book's intended audience of educators and others who are looking for a film that explores a particular issue. The volume concludes with a list of film distributors and a selected bibliography that is organized in the same way as the main text.

A few entries could have included more information. The entry on the 2002 version of the 1971 Russian film Solaris makes no mention of it being a remake for U.S. audiences. The entry for Imitation of Life, a classic film about race, does not mention the 1934 version, which was a landmark for its time. Nevertheless, this well-written, -arranged, and -researched work is recommended for academic as well as large public and high-school libraries. Lisa Johnston
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313319758
• ISBN 13: 9780313319754
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 248