The author and finisher of her craft: authentic creative...

"The author and finisher of her craft: authentic creative control in selected South African television series by Black women auteurs"

Presented by: Sibusisiwe Gugu Manqele, PhD candidate, English – University of KwaZulu-Natal

Attend in-person: FNB 4130
Attend online: Zoom link

Abstract:

An overt focus on Black women South African auteurs and the challenging of hegemonic conglomerate power structures in episodic television series. The purpose of this research is to document the experiences of Black women auteurs in South Africa creating creative work in mainstream television. Starting with Ayanda Halimana South African writer and Creative Director of Makoti (2019-2022). The aim of this research is to not only document the rise of the Black Millennial Auteurs, but also shed light on Black women auteurs who write, produce, direct and star in their work in South Africa. An undertheorized uncanonical study in South African film, television and cultural studies. This paper will be accompanied by an original work: a documentary with working title: She tells stories: South African episodic television drama writers.

This is a transdisciplinary study of Black women auteurs, writing for episodic television series. An attempt to theorise authentic creative control in the business of storytelling and the conditions towards owning text, production and distribution in television. I focus on Black women auteurs in contemporary South Africa with an autoethnographic account of the process of owning and producing episodic television series in South Africa beyond the anecdotal accounts. This study seeks to further analyse within a South African context the ‘empowered presence’ of Black women auteurs who have historically been economically marginalized and affected by commercialization and capitalistic hegemony in the business of storytelling. Revealing the factors that determine production value and distribution by unpacking the reasons and processes that connect the art of storytelling to its production and distribution. My method will include selected script analysis, data collection of newspapers, academic articles, reports, observations, press interviews and interviews with Black women auteurs which will assess how the process from script to production functions and its effects on the auteurs and the creative work outcome that is finally released as a picture for public viewing.

The event is part of the Mediations Lecture Series.