Festival Module 2009

This Module aims to allow students to immerse themselves in South African art and culture, primed with the background understanding they gained in the Core Module and the Festival Module seminars. The annual Grahamstown National Arts Festival offers an extensive range of music, drama, film, poetry, cabaret, street theatre, public lectures and exhibitions. It is an unparalleled opportunity to experience the diversity of South Africa in a single place and a short time. There will be a feast of culture and cuisine within walking distance of the Rhodes University campus.

Course Objectives:

• The purpose of the module will be to attempt to convey both the uniquely Southern African aspects of the arts and to explore the roots of these characteristics.

• The general objective is to allow participants to gain an overall understanding of the current state of the arts in South Africa. The specific objectives will be to focus on particular art forms and, by means of seminar discussion and practical exposure, gain a more focussed understanding of the characteristically South African flavour of the major art forms. Attention will continually be given to the specific historic and cultural conditions which have affected these characteristics.