COLLECTION NAME:
Graduate Thesis Collection
Record
Title:
Documenting Skin Bleaching in Dakar, Senegal with the Proper Use of the Cinematic Voice, Ethical Consideration and Expository Strategy
Creator:
N'Diaye, Sydellia Bellouise
Subject:
Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Film and Television
Subject:
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Film and Television
Rights:
Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Abstract:
"Also referred to as skin whitening, skin bleaching is the cosmetic use of chemical
agents to lighten the complexion of one’s skin and is currently considered to be a global
phenomenon practiced disproportionately within communities 'of color' and exceedingly
among people of African descent. In Dakar, Senegal, according to the World Health
Organization, '27% of Senegalese women are reported to use skin lightening products on a
regular basis. These products contain mercury, hydroquinone and caustic agents such as
sodium hydroxide all of which can cause kidney damage, cancer and disfiguration.' Xeesal
(Heh-suhl) is documentary on skin bleaching in Dakar, Senegal, and the efforts of the
community to stop this life threatening beauty treatment. When a documentary makes a
proposal or offers a perspective, 'voice' refers to how it does so. This cinematic voice acts as
an attestation to the individuality of the director and serves in determining his/her controlling
organization. A very distinct cinematic voice was discovered in the process of making
Xeesal. While referring to the four elements of documentary filmmaking-indexical
documentation, poetic experimentation, narrative storytelling, and rhetorical oratory - and
applying an expository documentary strategy, this research explains the cinematic
documentation process of skin bleaching in Dakar, Senegal, with a consideration of ethics
and inspires reflection on the history of skin bleaching and mythic origins of documentary
filmmaking."
agents to lighten the complexion of one’s skin and is currently considered to be a global
phenomenon practiced disproportionately within communities 'of color' and exceedingly
among people of African descent. In Dakar, Senegal, according to the World Health
Organization, '27% of Senegalese women are reported to use skin lightening products on a
regular basis. These products contain mercury, hydroquinone and caustic agents such as
sodium hydroxide all of which can cause kidney damage, cancer and disfiguration.' Xeesal
(Heh-suhl) is documentary on skin bleaching in Dakar, Senegal, and the efforts of the
community to stop this life threatening beauty treatment. When a documentary makes a
proposal or offers a perspective, 'voice' refers to how it does so. This cinematic voice acts as
an attestation to the individuality of the director and serves in determining his/her controlling
organization. A very distinct cinematic voice was discovered in the process of making
Xeesal. While referring to the four elements of documentary filmmaking-indexical
documentation, poetic experimentation, narrative storytelling, and rhetorical oratory - and
applying an expository documentary strategy, this research explains the cinematic
documentation process of skin bleaching in Dakar, Senegal, with a consideration of ethics
and inspires reflection on the history of skin bleaching and mythic origins of documentary
filmmaking."
Abstract:
Keywords: skin bleaching, expository, documentary, Dakar, Senegal, ethics, and Xeesal
Publisher:
Savannah, Georgia : Savannah College of Art and Design
Date:
2017-06
Format:
PDF : 38 pages, illustrations (chiefly color)