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Bay Lodyans

Bay Lodyans

By Accilien, Cécile

Published by State University of New York Press

English 254 pages 2023
Estimated reading time: 4 h 39 min
PDF

About this book

Considers how popular Haitian films not only provide entertainment but also help audiences in Haiti and the diaspora think through daily challenges. Honorable Mention, for the 2025 Book Prize presented by the Haitian Studies Association In Haitian Creole, bay lodyans means to tell stories to an audience, and more generally, to entertain. This book is the first to analyze popular contemporary Haitian films, looking especially at how they respond to the needs and desires of Haitian audiences in and beyond Haiti. Produced between 2000 and 2018 and largely shot with digital cameras and sometimes cellphones, these films focus on the complexities of community, nostalgia, belonging, identity, and the emotional landscapes of exile and diaspora. They reflect sociopolitical and cultural issues related to family, language, im/migration, religion, gender, sexuality, and economic hardship. Using storytelling and other less traditionally "academic" techniques, Cécile Accilien advances Haitian epistemological frameworks. Bay Lodyans integrates terms and concepts from Haitian culture, such as jerans and kafou (derived from the French words for "to manage" and "crossroads," respectively) and includes interviews with Haitian filmmakers, actors, and scholars in order to challenge the dominance of Western theoretical approaches and perspectives.

Availability

Bay Lodyans is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops. Bookshops carrying it include Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay.

Language
English
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Frequently asked questions

In what formats is Bay Lodyans available?
Bay Lodyans is available as PDF at 9 online bookshops.
Where can I buy Bay Lodyans?
You can buy Bay Lodyans at Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam, Bookshop Uruguay. Compare every option in the list on this page.
How long does it take to read Bay Lodyans?
At an average reading pace, Bay Lodyans takes about 4 h 39 min to read (254 pages).

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