The Last Interview

Jamaican-born British sociologist and professor Stuart Hall (1932-2014) may not be a familiar name to most Americans, but during his lifetime he was among the pioneers advocating for incorporating race in cultural studies. Sut Jhally, founder and executive director of Media Education Foundation, conducted a video interview with Hall shortly before his death. Unfortunately, much of what is discussed here seems obscure, if only because Jhally fails to provide any explanation of Hall’s theories and the impact that his scholarship has had on cultural studies. This is especially problematic when Jhally and Hall spend a great deal of time discussing the 1978 book Policing the Crisis, which Hall co-wrote; unless the viewer has some idea of what the book is about and how it changed academic studies, the conversation will be mostly a mystery. In an acknowledgment of racial relations in this country, Hall—whose work embraced the philosophical tenets of Marxism—is quizzed on Barack Obama’s presidency and he lightly complains about accusations that Obama was pushing forward a socialist agenda. Visually, this is a barebones production: Jhally is offscreen asking questions and Hall is framed tightly while sitting in a chair. Ulitmately, Hall’s ideas deserve a better airing than what is presented here. Not recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)