Prof BS Karam

Qualifications

• PhD Communication Science (Unisa, 2012)
• MA, Cultural and Media Studies (KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 1995)
• BSoc Sci Hons: Philosophy (KwaZulu-Natal, PMB)
• BSoc Sci Hons: Media and Cultural Studies  (KwaZulu-Natal, Durban)
• BSoc Sci: Philosophy and Psychology (Kwazulu-Natal, PMB)

Fields of academic interests

• Film
• Memory and trauma studies
• Political communication
• Decolonisation
• William Kentridge
• Gilles Deleuze; Slajov Žižek; Sigmund Freud
• Animation
• Aesthetics
• Gender and representation
• Television Studies

Field of Specialisation

• Film
• Memory and trauma studies
• Political Communication
• William Kentridge

Books

Mutsvairo, B & Karam, B (eds).  2018.  Perspectives of political communication in Africa. London: Palgrave.

Book chapters:

Karam, B. 2019. The digital divide and film, in Mapping key perspectives on digital divide in Africa, edited by M Ragnedda and B Mutsvairo. Amsterdam: AUP.

Karam, B. 2018a. Theorising political communication, in Prospects of political communication, edited by B Mutsvairo and B Karam. London: Palgrave.

Karam, B. 2018b. “An-other”-centred film curricula: Decolonising film studies in Africa, in The Palgrave Handbook of Media and Communication Research in Africa. London: Palgrave..

Karam, B. 2013.  Film styles, in Visual culture in South Africa, edited by J Reid.  Cape Town: Pearson.

Karam, B.  2007.  Gender and the media, in Media studies, volume 2: media policy, management and media and representation, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Karam, B.  2001a. Censorship, in Media studies, volume 1: institutions, theories and issues, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Karam, B.  2001b. Film production, in Media studies, volume 1: institutions, theories and issues, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Karam, B.  2001c. Educational media, in Media studies, volume 1: institutions, theories and issues, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Fourie, PJ & Karam, B.  2001. Representation: race, gender and sexual orientation, in Media studies, volume 2: content, audiences and production, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Karam, B & Parry, L.  2001. Feminism, in Media studies, volume 2: content, audiences and production, edited by PJ Fourie.  Cape Town: Juta.

Journal articles

Karam, B. 2018. Postfeminism and the South African Context through the Prism of a Blood-soaked Imagination. Communicatio.

Karam, B.  2016.  William Kentridge’s Monument (1990) as counter-monument and the embodiment of negative aesthetics. Image & Text 27(2):75-101.

Karam, B. 2014.   William Kentridge’s animated ‘Drawings for Projection’ as a postmemorial aesthetic. De arte, 90(2):4-23.

Karam, B. 2013a. Subverting the Gaze: The voyeuristic, fetishised spectacle of Karl Lagerfeld’s Pirelli Calendar (2011). Image & Text 21:30-53.

Karam, B. 2013b. Book review: “Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture” (Julia Wood). Gender Questions 1(1).

Karam, B. 1997. The South African Film industry: The Arts and Culture Task Group and the White Paper on film.  L’Crans Afrique. (English and French editions).

Karam, B, Botha, M, & Tomaselli, K.  1996.  White Paper on Film. Pretoria: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Karam, B & Kirby-Hirst, M.  2012. “Reality worlds” Collide:  Film and Videogames as Pedagogical Tools for the Classics.  Akroterion.

Karam, B, Singh, A & Rantho, T. 1995.  ACTAG final report: restructuring the South African film industry. Pretoria: Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

• Editorial Board: Image/Text (an accredited Journal)

Projects

• Landscapes of Cinema: Hearing our voices, Screening our Cultures: dealing with the representation of, and about Africa, in film, from within Africa and the diaspora (Founding member: 2011-current).
• QUILTBAG Community Engagement Project dealing with Queer, Unisex, Intersex, Lesbian and Trans issues and human rights. QUILTBAG hosts an annual Seminar and Seminar series annually (2013-current).