Feminist Media
I believe that feminism is all about equality. It is not necessary for a filmmaker to stand up and say 'I am a feminist'. The choices within the work speak for themselves. The choice to include actors that are powerful performers, regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation. That to me is feminism, the inclusion of all people. This class focused on the subject matter of the film. This is a defining characteristic as well, films about all people. We watched films about women, about people of color, people of homosexual orientation, people living in an oppressive society. These untold stories are finally being told. That is a feminist film. The choice to take a chance on something that may not be profitable, that may not be seen by millions, but that is a statement worth saying, a message that whatever the profit, the filmmaker wants to share. And sometimes they are noticed, like 'Million Dollar Baby', a film whose main character is a female athlete, she's not the lover of the lead male. She is the story, and it was a great story, a story noticed by audiences and critics. 'Boys Don't Cry' is another example of a film that told a powerful story about a type of main character that we rarely see, and it made some noise. Perhaps Hillary Swank is just good at choosing her jobs;) A lot of the films we watched in class obviously weren't blockbuster hits, but they were powerful in their own right. It is becoming a trend to follow more indie films, and i think this is a great thing. Big stars are aiming for more intense or politically motivated roles, like 'Brokeback Mountain'. And maybe its their controversial storylines that make these films get noticed, but for whatever reason, more feminist films are breaking into the mainstream, and that sense of equality is a beautiful thing. I just hope that the trend doesnt end before it really gets started, and more stories as moving as 'Water' will have a chance to be heard.