Feminist Media
It is hard for me to explicitly state what I think qualifies something as feminist media. Although I do believe there are inherent many qualities that can help in characterizing it. It is important for the maker of the media specifically to believe in their work, not for selfish reasons, but because they are making a statement or sending a message.
What is created should not be purposely hateful, hurtful or degrading to either sex. In Water, it was necessary to show the pain and degradation widows had to go through in their lives in order to convey their suffering. In circumstances like that, where it adds to the specific message of a piece, not just for masochistic purposes, is it understandable.
The work should also be empowering and provide the ability for the audience to identify with the content. For example, the film experience should engage the viewer and provide a story with a message that both educates and arouses their mind.
There are so many mediums that degrade, abuse and objectify both sexes. Our society is conditioned into accepting certain representations of race, class and gender that when we see something that is outside of the norm we fear it. A lot of media makers don’t like to associate themselves with any connotations as to not isolate and deter their audience. But when someone labels themself as a feminist filmmaker, for example, a bout of hesitancy comes about. What do we really fear: the fact that they letting the public acknowledge their personal identification, or the fact that we fear someone that is different than ourselves? There is a difference between intentionally not labeling your work and the need for not explicitly saying it so as to let the work speak for itself. I think this is just as powerful, because it will allow the audience to interpret the piece itself without any labels, and potentially learn feminisms without knowing it. Although I wish there was more proper representation of feminism in different medias, I applaud those who are creating it.
Both in and out of class this semester I have encountered and experienced different feminist media makers. We have studied the works of various filmmakers from Jane Campion to Kimberly Pierce. Outside of class, I viewed works of feminist filmmakers like Mira Nair and studied the works of feminist friendly photographer Annie Liebovitz.