Feminism
While in this class I have been exposed to a group of film makers that I didn’t know were making so much media.
My interest in women’s studies has helped me to realize that the term feminist is one that many don’t feel the need to adhere to. Sitting through a semester of a psychology of women class has also made me realize that many people think that feminism is dated, or that it is consists solely of lesbians and hippies. So I now do not expect everyone I meet to realize the significance of being a feminist, that there is a place for men and women in the movement, and that it is a serious political stance.
While it does not surprise me that women are making incredible movies under the name of feminism I also think that there are many women and men who are taking into account the intersections of race, class, nation, sex and gender, who are questioning the social constructions and implications of such in their work. I would call these feminist issues myself. I just discovered the channel Logo the other day and was able to watch a short film about a gay zombie. This is something that I would view as an entire feminist channel. Bringing to light issues of agency, who is able to speak and who is heard, allowing us to view formally (and not so formally) deviant sexualities and making this visible to us is a feminist spin in many regards. There are so many different definitions of feminism that I don’t know if it matters if someone declares her/himself a feminist or not. As long as there is media being made that points out humanitarian issues, that explores and questions the social construction of ideals and keeps us thinking I do not personally need a declaration of a feminist standpoint.