In September and October 2021, South Carolina State University will sponsor a media literacy and film discussion program titled “Colors of Film” that will serve the Orangeburg community. The programming includes two media literacy workshops and two public film screenings. SC Humanities supported this programming with a Major Grant.
“Colors of Film” is designed to help participants examine the dynamic media landscape in terms of type and delivery; role of media in their lives; and equip them with tools for interpretation and consumption. The project was developed in conjunction with two experts in the field: Omme-Salma Rahemtullah, an Adjunct Film and Media lecturer at the University of South Carolina, and Mahkia Greene, a media educator and film maker.
The media literacy workshops will be facilitated by Mahkia Greene. The first workshop, “Intro to Media Literacy,” will take place on Wednesday, September 15th at 5:30 p.m. and will introduce participants to tools to build a better understanding of what they see and hear through films, including the development of problem-solving and technical skills, analytical thinking, and critical viewing techniques. The second workshop, “Breaking the News,” will take place on Wednesday, October 6th at 5:30 p.m. and will engage participants in building an understanding of the role of media, especially the news, in society and the essential skills of inquiry and self-expression necessary for citizens of a democracy. The workshops are free and open to all SC State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as members of the public. Registration is required and COVID protocols will be strictly enforced.
Registration for the first workshop: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/intro-to-media-literacy-workshop-colors-of-film-tickets-168775988525
Registration for the second workshop: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/breaking-the-news-workshop-colors-of-film-tickets-168961383045
Additionally, “Colors of Film” will include the screening of two black diasporic films that have not received much attention in South Carolina. Burning Cane will be screened on Wednesday, September 22 at 5:30 p.m., and Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project will be screened on Wednesday, September 29 at 5:30 p.m.
In Burning Cane, a deeply religious woman struggles to reconcile her convictions of faith with the love she has for her alcoholic son and a troubled preacher. Set in rural Louisiana, the film explores the relationships within a Southern Black Protestant community, examining the roots of toxic masculinity, how manhood is defined and the dichotomous role of religion and faith. A panel discussion will follow the screening, moderated by Dr. Alison McLetchie from South Carolina State University. Panelists will explore issues of faith and Black life in the South. Register for the program here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/burning-cane-film-screening-tickets-168963549525.
Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project tells the story of Marion Stokes, who secretly recorded television 24 hours a day for 30 years from 1975 until her death in 2012, as a form of activism, to seek the truth, and as an invaluable archive for the future. The film explores the role of the media, and especially the news, in shaping our perceptions of the world and community around us. A panel discussion will follow the screening, moderated by Omme-Salma Rahemtullah. Panelists will explore issues raised in the film such as fake news, media access and investigative reporting. Register for the program here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/recorder-the-marion-stokes-project-film-screening-tickets-168964648813
For more information about “Colors of Film,” contact Dr. Mc Letchie at amcletch@scsu.edu.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.
