Topic 1.A. Parallel Stories:  Filmmaker Dani Kouyate’s film Keita parallels the contemporary story of Mabo Keita and the past story of Sundjata, Mabo’s illustrious ancestor.  Compare significant similarities and/or differences between the characters and stories of Mabo Keita and his ancestor Sundjata Keita, considering how these two characters and/or stories seem to comment on each other. 
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Topic 1.B. Griots Past and Present: Compare past and present roles of the Griot in Mande society--e.g. Djeliba Kouyate of the present, and Doua and Bella Fasseke (AKA Balla Fasseke) of the past.  And/or you may wish to approach filmmaker Dani Kouyate and his father Sogui Kouyate (a celebrated international actor who plays the character of Djeliba in the film and is a real-life griot) as modern-day griots, and consider how they are trying to use the modern medium of film to revitalize and carry out the griot’s challenging mission in today’s Africa.
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Topic 1.C.  Mabo's Education: Djeliba and Mr. Fofano come into direct conflict over the education of Mabo Keita.  Mabo is torn between these two:  “I want to go to school, but I want the story to continue" (cited in Agatucci, "Keita Film Notes & Viewing Guide"; "Film Sequence and Scene Notes" section "17. Cut to Present: the Keita home").  Compare/contrast the different types of knowledge and education represented by Djeliba and Mr. Fofano.
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Topic 1.D. Tradition and/vs. Modernity:  Cite and comment on some significant moments in the film Keita (1994) that address the relationship between tradition and modernity in West African Mande society in the late 20th century.  Also comment on what you make of Keita film director Dani Kouyate's view that modernity and tradition "are two parallel realities, and we are in between. And this is the problem. Sometimes we are traditional, sometimes we are modern without ever having achieved to integrate the two in an intelligent way. And this is why we have to take the bull by the horns" (Gavron and Reinwald, cited in Agatucci, "Keita Film Notes & Viewing Guide"; "Film Introduction" section "Director Dani Kouyaté & Griot Sotigui Kouyaté").  
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Topic 1.E. The "Ending": The final scenes of the film Keita leave both past and present heroes Sundjata and Mabo Keita at turbulent crossroads, where difficult choices must be made without their griots' guidance and the future is uncertain.  Analyze the thematic message conveyed by these final scenes, and speculate on why filmmaker Dani Kouyate chose to end his film this way. 
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Topic 1.F. Hunter of Do: Analyze the role/s of the mysterious master Hunter of Do in Keita, citing well-selected examples to demonstrate your interpretation of what this character contributes to the film.  And be sure to speculate and/or raise questions on the reason/s why you think this character appears--the only character to appear--in both the present and past stories dramatized in the film.
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Topic 1.G. Portrayals of Women: Analyze the portrayals of two or more female characters in Keita, citing well-selected examples to illustrate your analysis: e.g. of Sitan Keita (Mabo's mother), Do-Kamissa (the mystic Buffalo Woman), Sogolon (Do-Kamissa's "ugly" "adopted daughter" and mother of Sundjata), and/or Sassouma Berete ("beautiful" first wife of King Maghan Kon Fatta and mother of the King's first-born son Dankaran Touman). 
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Topic 1.F. Another Significant Aspect of the Film:  If you want to focus on another aspect of the film Keita for Seminar #3 Part 1 written preparation, please contact Cora ASAP.