A Filmmaker's Guide to: The Black Arts Movement

In this chapter of ‘the filmmaker’s guide’ we’re actually going to be learning about literature and film together. I understand that many of you are sitting in university during difficult times and finding it increasingly hard to study and I understand that many of you who are not at university or not planning on it are possibly stuck of what to do, need a break or even need to catch up on learning film before you get to the next level. This guide will be brief but will also contain: new vocabulary, concepts and theories, films to watch and we will be exploring something taboo until now in the ‘filmmaker’s guide’ - academia (abyss opens). Each article will explore a different concept of film, philosophy, literature or bibliography/filmography etc. in order to give you something new to learn each time we see each other. You can use some of the words amongst family and friends to sound clever or you can get back to me (email in bio) and tell me how you’re doing. So, strap in and prepare for the filmmaker’s guide to film studies because it is going to be one wild ride.

The Black Arts Movement

What is it?

The Black Arts Movement was a movement from the 1960s Civil Rights' Era in which African-American writers, artists, singers, etc. were moving away from the stereotype that was expected of them. They began to go their own way, invent their own movement, use their language from their background and their vernacular from their native blood. It became one of the most famous and effective arts movements in all of human history and seriously, both literature and film are better off for it.

Books from the Black Arts Movement include the works of James Baldwin, especially his books "Go Tell it On the Mountain" and "Just Above My Head". The Autobiographies of people like Malcolm X had come out and Dr. Martin Luther King had his "Letters From Birmingham Jail" circulating around the world that was now waking up to this talent. But perhaps one of the most influential books of the Black Arts movement (and maybe of all time) was Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". An incredible testament to the movement, it solidified the place the Black Arts Movement had in world history - in importance it is somewhere at the top.

What about in film?

Now, the Black Arts Movement depicted in film are examples of some of the best cinematic experiences you will ever have. Surging into cinemas during the 80s and the 90s and making a massive resurgence now, the Black Arts Movement goes from strength to strength, becoming some of the most profitable and well-made films in the world of film. Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992) stands out as one of the most crucial films at depicting the world of the Black Arts Movement along with the documentary "I Am Not Your Negro" (2016) which makes you realise that James Baldwin is possibly the most articulate man in all of history.

Films made around the era including the adaptation of the novel "A Raisin in the Sun" (1961) and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" (1967) which practically shocked the world. The Black Arts Movement soon became notorious for producing great talents from the revolutionary Sidney Poitier all the way to our modern king of superheroes, the late Chadwick Boseman. Directors such as Spike Lee, Jordan Peele (whom I also call the new Hitchcock, just without the misconduct), Ryan Coogler, John Singleton and Ava DuVernay have come to be some of the most talented directors in Hollywood with John Singleton being most famous for directing one of the world's most recognised music videos: Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time".

Now we're going to have a look at some further reading into what you can learn about the context, revolution and extreme talent that goes into and comes out of the Black Arts Movement.

Further Reading