The Political Economy of film production in South Africa Media Paper

The Political Economy of Film Production in South Africa
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The Political Economy of Film Production in South Africa
Introduction
In the wake of the oppressive apartheid regime, South Africa suffered severe division amongst its own people, which created the need for the creation of a cohesive national identity to uphold peace and unity within the country. Film is one of the major avenues used to reconcile South Africa with its past and projecting what the new South Africa ought to be. The film industry is, therefore, expected to uphold the post-apartheid vision of freedom, diversity, and equality. However, the film industry is also a sector that provides an opportunity for the country’s economic growth and, as such, may require tailoring to suit audiences outside South Africa. Through the study of the current film industry in South Africa, it is clear that a conflict exists between the fulfillment of the post-apartheid vision and the use of film for economic growth within the country.
This research paper will explore the role of film in post-apartheid South Africa and the challenges faced in the quest to fulfill the post-apartheid vision. The research will employ the political-economic model of analysis in making the distinctions between the conflicting needs that the film industry is expected to fulfill and, therefore, prove that economic growth is favored above the post-apartheid vision. It will also analyze both the upcoming and existing financial, production, and distribution structures within the South African film industry, to determine their impact on the film industry. Finally, the research will analyze the role of government in regulating the film industry through policies to determine the priorities of the South African government for the film industry.
Role of Film in Post-Apartheid South Africa
Film plays a crucial role in post-apartheid South Africa. First, it offers a platform where the country’s problems can be critiqued or exposed to the outside world. Post-apartheid South Africa was confident in the many ways the country would grow and progress economically and democratically. However, the country has experienced slow growth since 1994. For example, Runciman (2016) notes that the unemployment rate in 1995 for black and whites stood at 46% and 6.7%, respectively, and the cumulative national total was 36.1%. More than 20 years down the line, Plecher (2020) reports that the cumulative national unemployment total is 28.18%, which is a meager 8% lower. Also, the black vs. white unemployment rate stood at 33.8% and 8.1%, respectively, in 2019 (Kamer, 2020). Aside from the above, the World Bank (2020) reports that in 2014, the country’s poverty percentage stood at a whopping 55%. The divisions along racial lines, both economically and otherwise, are also quite worrying. In one of his famous speeches, former president Thabo Mbeki talked of the nation as being divided into “two nations, the one black and the other white” (Nattrass and Seekings, 2001). While looking at the above, it is clear that the country is yet to make the expected great strides. Film has helped to ensure that these aspects and disparities in the country are being critiqued. In ca...