Globalization and African cinema: distribution and reception in the anglophone region

When Tommy Lott advanced his 'no-theory theory' on the definition of black cinema, he argued that a theory remains a theory only up to the time when the meanings it advances 'are no longer applicable'. He was aware of the complexity of theorizing on an ongoing activity based on an essentialized notion.

What I see as a possible arena of contention and re-theorizing is the versatility of cultures in appropriating processes of knowledge distribution. What I am advocating here is seeing the film and video distribution practices that continue to grow in Africa as loci of sociological and ontological questionings. Is the experience of media within cultures dependent on exposure to western media concepts? Isn't exposure itself merely a limited rather than a limiting experience? How far are 'appropriations' related to media sociality? How do community media express themselves outside the boundaries of expectations and definitions of authoritative media?