Here are my original questions plus yours. Feel free to add to these questions as well as reflect on any of them...
Why is it necessary that we have a class devoted to women and film?
How are women framed in, through and by film?
Why do such representations matter?
How do they inform our understanding of gender in our everyday lives?
How have scholars understood films by women? How have women filmmakers challenged, shaped and changed the form, content and style of movies?
How important is the language of feminism to contemporary filmmaking?
How important is the language of filmmaking to the progress of feminism?
Can the camera make gender neutral?
How do representations of women differ in mainstream v. alternative/independent cinema?
How do films by women differ in their portrayals of female v. male protagonists.
What are the social ramifications of a phallocentric film industry?
Does the gaze change based on the culture of the filmmaker or the audience?
How/has the industry changed since the feminist film movement?
What comes next for women filmmakers?
How is mainstream filmmaking reinforcing gender roles and heteronormativity?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What do you think?
http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/01/a-big-year-for-hollywood-women [Radio program]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102300194.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/movies/13dargis.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Take a look/listen at the above links. Do you think representations of women in Hollywood have changed for the better? Do they provide more realistic portrayals of women? What about diversity and age? Does it matter that there are still very few women directors in mainstream cinema?
In the radio program one of the contributors talks about how women get a chance to make one Hollywood film and if it isn't a success then they bounce back to wherever they come from (t.v., etc.) yet men can fail many times and keep getting work in Hollywood. Why do you think this happens?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102300194.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/movies/13dargis.html?_r=1&emc=eta1
Take a look/listen at the above links. Do you think representations of women in Hollywood have changed for the better? Do they provide more realistic portrayals of women? What about diversity and age? Does it matter that there are still very few women directors in mainstream cinema?
In the radio program one of the contributors talks about how women get a chance to make one Hollywood film and if it isn't a success then they bounce back to wherever they come from (t.v., etc.) yet men can fail many times and keep getting work in Hollywood. Why do you think this happens?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
How to Read a FIlm
Here are some tips for reading/writing about film.
Glossary of film terms
Basic guide to film analysis
How to write about film
What should you write down when taking notes? Generally you will have read articles that pertain to the particular film we're watching in class so obviously you will want to look for the points that the article raises. In this culture we are raised on film as entertainment and stepping outside of that viewing position can be very challenging. Basically what you want to do is to think about the film as the sum of its parts. Film is a visual and aural medium so a good director uses the cinematography and sound design as much as the actors to tell the story. Some of the things you might notice are:
What is the basic plot? What are the main characters names?
How is that plot told visually?
What aspects of the story are pertinent to the readings/class?
Note dialogue that strikes you as interesting/pertinent.
What spaces does the story take place in?
What do those spaces look like? What do you see in them?
Why did the director choose those spaces and that look?
What kind of shots are used?
What is the soundtrack like? Is there music? Ambient (natural) sound?
Why are these sounds being used for each character/scene?
What is the lighting like? Dark? Light? Why?
What is the editing like? Fast? Slow? Smooth? Choppy? Why?
Glossary of film terms
Basic guide to film analysis
How to write about film
What should you write down when taking notes? Generally you will have read articles that pertain to the particular film we're watching in class so obviously you will want to look for the points that the article raises. In this culture we are raised on film as entertainment and stepping outside of that viewing position can be very challenging. Basically what you want to do is to think about the film as the sum of its parts. Film is a visual and aural medium so a good director uses the cinematography and sound design as much as the actors to tell the story. Some of the things you might notice are:
What is the basic plot? What are the main characters names?
How is that plot told visually?
What aspects of the story are pertinent to the readings/class?
Note dialogue that strikes you as interesting/pertinent.
What spaces does the story take place in?
What do those spaces look like? What do you see in them?
Why did the director choose those spaces and that look?
What kind of shots are used?
What is the soundtrack like? Is there music? Ambient (natural) sound?
Why are these sounds being used for each character/scene?
What is the lighting like? Dark? Light? Why?
What is the editing like? Fast? Slow? Smooth? Choppy? Why?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Chick Strand Screening at Squeaky Wheel
Chick Strand was a very important experimental non-fiction filmmaker. You'll see her referenced in some of your readings. This is a great opportunity to check out some of her work: http://www.squeaky.org/events/2010/winter/subjectivestates-magicalnon-fictions
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