Two cultures – African and Latin American – will combine in the semester-long Documentaries in the Library film series.

The first installment of the series, subtitled “Africa in Latin America,” will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Hodges Library auditorium.

Troy Davis, media services librarian, said the films presented generally address and document the presence of the culture, communications and traditions of Africa in Latin America.

Following the viewing of the film, Dawn Duke and Alvaro Ayo, assistant professors in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literature, will lead discussions.

Topics discussed center on “themes related to African presence in Latin America today,” Duke said.

“Discussion will broadly cover how the films deal with African diaspora, questions of identity, aesthetics of documentary films and creative treatment of race relation through this medium,” Davis said.

Duke said students of all fields of study will benefit from attending and participating.

“The series is of special significance for all those in the humanities, but is not necessarily restricted to that,” Duke said. “The program seeks to promote knowledge of the Latin American region.”

Davis also praised the film series for its educational merit.

“It offers an informal and authentic educational experience and introduces students to issues and controversies that are going on in the world beyond campus,” Davis said. “Documentaries in the Library is a series that promotes the use of documentary films (not only) as texts (or) artifacts to be studied, but also visual treatments of actuality.”

Davis said the film series will be a good opportunity to view quality films that are not readily available to most of the general public.

“Although the films are critically acclaimed, they are also films that are not widely distributed,” Davis said.

The remaining free documentaries will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. They are open to the public.