F06 :: Feminist Film Studies

After viewing the documentary about the women of Juarez, Mexico, I was not quite sure what to think. My initial feeling, as I'm sure was the same with most of the other viewers was essentially that I could not understand how something has not been done to stop this. If this was the message of the film, then it seems to be a success to me. Personally, I thought it was a film that held your interest as a viewer, and it included the emotional film values one can take from including family and friends into it. As a student of film, I was pleased that they also interviews persons in all fields, and not just family members. That makes it easier to view the film in a more fulfilling way. Although they included interviews with persons of law and past victims, I did think the filmmaker attempted to sway the audience members opinion, but in this case it seems rightfully so.

One of the things I enjoyed about this film was the editing. By saying this, I mean the way they decide to piece the film together. They could have filmed an interview of a person fully through, and then move on to the next person. Instead, they go back and forth, back again and it comes together to get the full view instead of a partial one. I think that in this case it is a more artistic way to get your point across as a filmmaker. Another thing that I though was fairly powerful was when they were interviewing the family of victims, or even the victims that got away. The slow motion seemed to elevate the emotions that they were going through, and the trials that are still ahead of them. Films of this nature need moments like that because the subject matter that is dealt with are many murdered women. The film is supposed to ooze emotion, and I think this film uses a subtle approach with many filmmaking aspects that we can further indulge in.

Posted by Jacob Deibele at 03:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I thought the video shown in class about the portrayal of middle eastern women was thought provoking and made a great point. Being from a fairly conservative family in the suburbs, I had always been told that all middle eastern women are so oppressed by their religion and culture, which is obvious due to the way they all dress. When the point was made comparing western women being oppressed by the media to middle eastern women being oppressed due to their clothing, I was immediately thrown into deep thought about what I considered oppression. Like many other women, I thought that liberation went hand in hand with having the right to do what I want with my life and body. I had thought that hiding my body would be oppression, never my choice to be modest. After seeing that video, I have realized that being modest is not oppression but a female's choice.

Great job on your film Saly!

Posted by Nicole Zroka at 01:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I thought the document that we watched in class which tells about the story of the hundreds of kidnapped, raped and murdered young women in Juarez, Mexico was extremely thought provoking. I thought that the way the document was film was straightforward and it brought out this sort of “truth” that we wouldn’t have otherwise notice if we were to read the stories from the newspaper, articles or to hear it on the news. In the document, I was exceptionally surprise to find out that the cops were also involved in some of the violence. It just goes to show how corrupted their law system is and it is a logical explanation to why the kidnap is still continuing. The personal interviews on the family and on one of the women who had experienced the brutality from the cops first handed were particularly productive. I felt that it played a big attribution to giving the women who were being kidnap a voice and to help further the document argue on how important it is to give these woman and their families their human rights. On the whole, the way the document investigated each women’s story was respectable and modest. Films such as this have the potential to making a difference in the way people view a particular story because it certainly have changed the way I view and helped me to better understand the stories of the women in Juarez.

Posted by Pang Xiong at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The documentary about Juarez was both very moving and very informative. It exposed a lot of the injustice that goes on in the world that we aren't aware of or even think about. It made me feel blessed for the security that my family, friends, and I enjoy. It also made me feel like we as human beings for the sake of humanity should do something to ensure women around the world the same basic necessity of security. In that movie they interview a young girl who looks like one of my best friends (who is Mexican); and looking at her made me want to cry because I imagined my best friend in that girls place. Why should things like this only affect us if we know the person? It should be a priority to provide safety to people living in any country, but the authorities of Juarez have failed miserably to do so. The most disturbing fact that this documentary pointed out is that not only were these innocent women being victimized by men, but also by women. You would think the women who did this to these young women would place themselves in their shoes. Another disturbing point was how the attorney general was a women and she failed to do anything about what was going on. Sometimes it looked like she didn’t want to do anything about it. You would think that being a woman herself she would have some empathy toward the victims and their families. It looked like she might even be paid off because she wouldn’t look for girls who went missing and then she had the papers falsely print that a girl was found with her boy friend. Another sick thing was how the police was involved and how they found a scapegoat (Sherief) and blamed the whole thing on him, even though he was in prison and the murders kept happening. Where would he get the money to pay gang members 1000 dollars each to murder women if he is in prison? I find it insulting that the police would think that people would actually believe that. It is obvious that the problem goes up to high government positions because there is strong evidence to incriminate police officers (like when they give a skeleton back to the family and it’s not the right skeleton but the right clothes; and there is a pile of women’s clothes at the police station) yet nothing is done. Even if the officers are reported, like the three who assaulted Maria, they are not convicted. I think the way they are dealing (or in this case not dealing) with the cases is wrong. It seems that they don’t care for these women because they view them as “disposable.” There is a lot of them, they all come looking for jobs, an a lot of them don’t seem to know that is going on (they all know that some women disappeared but they don’t know why of what happened to them). They come from helpless families that have no power or affect on the government whose members seem to be clearly involved. It is disgusting how people can take advantage of the helpless while a whole government cans stand there and watch.

Posted by Saly Abdalla at 08:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I watched this documentary in a class last year and was shocked and appalled with the situation in Juarez. I have been there twice with my church and never heard anything about the crimes. It's amazing how corrupt governments can become when the wrong people gain the upper hand. The most shocking thing to me is that although 80% of the maquiladoras are owned by the United States, we do nothing to stop it (unless of course a U.S. citizen is in danger.) Our countires leaders claim to be doing all in their power to stop terrorism and to help mankind but because the situation in Mexico involves low income women, they do nothing. Sometimes, I wish that I didn't even know about what goes on in the world because it is so dispicable and as Angeline said, I feel powerless. It's amazing what the human race is capable of.
But on the other hand, situations like the one in Juarez gives the people and the women of the world a reason to stand up and tell the world that we will not tolerate this treatment. Even if the United States has recognized the female gender as equal to the male, many other countries have not. Being privaledged women, we need to make a difference for those who are not as lucky. I don't believe this documentary's purpose was to depress all that watch it. I think it was meant to show us how much work needs to be done and to motivate us to act.

Posted by Nicole Zroka at 03:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This documentary was amazing. I'm just picking up the basics of film analysis in this class, so I still basically judge films by the gut feeling I get from watching them. This one gave me a stomach ache. I've been thinking about it a lot. I knew nothing about Juarez before I saw this film, and I'm glad to be a little informed about the atrocities that are happening there.
But I'm also frustrated. This film left me aching for vigilante justice. After watching it I found myself thinking that I should go to Juarez, single-handedly figure out who is murdering these women, and kill all the responsible parties. But then of course I realized that that would never work, that it would be me, one person, fighting a systemic and widespread problem. Basically impossible. That left me feeling powerless. I could give money to the organization that is trying to help families in Juarez, and I support that organization, but what I really want is direct action. Something I can physically do that would create tangible results. I guess that's my frustration in feminism as a whole. I'm committed wholeheartedly to this war for equality. I want to fight it on a large scale but I don't know how. Changing my own life has helped me personally and I feel strong in my sex and gender, but now I want to change the system so that it fits everyone and is open to difference. I find myself wishing that the patriarchy was a physical thing, or just a handful of people, so that I could destroy it. But its not, and I don't know how to fight these massive social and systemic problems alone. Not that I'm alone in this battle, I'm lucky to know many strong women that I respect and admire. I guess I just feel like theory and discussion and thinking have gotten me as far as they can, and now I need to act. But what do I do?

Posted by Angeline Andersen at 05:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

First of all, what we saw in this documentary about Juarez and the treatment of women there was a cry for help. That was a way for Portillo to expose the injustice that is going on there. We saw the worst kind of misogyny that was exercised not only by men but even some women of Juarez. I felt that the overall opinion of the government was that these women deserved it. Not only were they subjected to horrible torture, but now their families had to defend them which showed the value of a woman doesn't amount to much there. The government made it look as though the girls/women were "bad" because they were out at night and did questionable things. On top of that, there was an overall understanding that if you were to come out and say anything, you could be in trouble. We see that when one man said that he didn't question anything or anybody when he found a body of a girl because he didn't want problems. The same happens when Suly, the investigator, basically implies that she is scared to do justice in one of the interviews. And, finally, in the treatment of Maria, the woman that came forward with the allegations of police being involved. Most importantly, I don't understand how the people that run the maquiladoras can just turn the other way and ignore this issue of severe injustice against women.
I feel that Portillo chose a certain way of telling this story, mostly through symbolism: shoes - representing the only way the relatives could identify a body; hands - when the relatives of the missing and murdered women decided to rise up and take this issue and the investigation into their own hands; and the close-up of the faces. I think the close up shots of the faces of these women was to familiarize us with their story. To let us know that they are humans first of all and highly devalued women.
Lastly, I felt that there should have been something said about the men of Juarez. Did they work at the same maquiladoras? Maybe they could have organized escort services for the women working early and late

Posted by Nodira Ismoilova at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'd like to provide a link that people may find useful in understanding the difference between transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, homosexual, etc. The language used in Boys Don't Cry may be misleading; when Brandon is in jail he tells Lana that he is a Hermaphrodite, which is incorrect. Also, I noticed some blog responses that used terms inappropriately, so maybe we could all benefit from understanding more.

Transgender is the state of one's "gender identity" (self-identification as male, female, both or neither) not matching one's "assigned gender" (identification by others as male or female based on physical/genetic sex). Transgender does not imply any specific form of sexual orientation (transgender people may be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual or asexual.) (Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender

Posted by Emily Burt at 05:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is the second time that I have seen "Set It Off". The first time was a few years back when I was flipping channels and saw it was on TV. I remember deciding to watch the film instead of changing the channel only because I recognized Jada Pinkett Smith and liking her and Will Smith as a couple wanted to see her in a film. When I began to watch the film I didn't know the title and had missed seeing the opening scenes but I watched it anyway because of Jada. Besides the fact that Jada was in the film and that almost everyone dies at the end of the film, that was all that I remembered of the film when I was sitting in class thinking about the film waiting for it to start. Once the film began I was shocked to see continuous acts of violence on the screen, which I didn't remember from watching the film a few years ago. When Stevie was killed I got tears in my eyes. At other scenes in the film I also got tears in my eyes because I could relate with the pain that the women in the film were going through. Being able to empathize with the women made the film more powerful to me in it’s second viewing. When viewing films like this I almost wish the film wasn't made because then those characters wouldn't have to go through the pain that the director makes them go through. Films like "Set It Off" are more powerful and more realistic to me than films like "The Piano". This is because I can't necessarily relate as much to a film, which has a setting that is so unlike the atmosphere and setting of my life. I have never been in the socioeconomic position that the four women in the film "Set It Off" were in but this film did take place in America and in a metropolitan area, not in a lush jungle atmosphere like in "The Piano". I really enjoyed this film but was sad when it was over for a reason other then the ending being sad. I was sad because I really don't like the films "Boys Don't Cry" and "North Country" and am really not looking forward to watching those films in class. I understand why we will be watching them but I just don’t like viewing sexual violence, it makes me mad and really uncomfortable. However this time when I view these films in class I will try to watch the film from a feminist perspective, attempting to analyze the film and not merely 'watch' it. I'm not sure if I can separate 'watching' a film from 'analyzing' a film but I will try my best, otherwise I seriously doubt I will be able to sit through both of these upcoming films. When I mentioned these feelings that I have about these films to my Fiancé he said "sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in order to see life in a different light". I agree, but it’s hard to voluntarily put your self in a situation where you know you will be uncomfortable, but I will do it for the sake of Feminist Studies!

Posted by Stephanie Scott at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

< While I watched the piano, I was shocked at how much colors affected the mood, ideas, and actions of the characters. I consider myself an artist (or at least an aspiring one) so I instinctually notice the use of color in media. I found that Jane Campion truly used her pallet of colors to create the beautiful canvass and masterpiece onscreen. While blue was a constant reminder of the sorrow, pain, and lonliness that Ada felt throughout the movie...it was the use of black that interested me more. Campion's use of the color black created a morbid and funeral like ambiance for me while I watched. With Ada shrouded in a thick black dress and bonnet for the majority of the movie, it seemed to me that she was either on her way, or preparing to go to a funeral. That suspicion kept the suspense very high throughout the movie. It is not until the end that the viewer learns that the death would be her own (metaphorically speaking). When she throws her piano overboard, it is as if a part of her is dying...part of her soul has been bruised so deeply by the whole experience, that it too is now black. Furthermore, once she is plunged into the dark blue water, she seems to have no fear...she allows the darkness of the water to engulf her. In addition to her wardrobe, she requests of Baines to be able to "work off" the black keys instead of the white ones. (While there are clearly more white keys than black ones on a piano, and therefore less for her to "work off" this also made a impact on me). It seemed as though the pure white keys were too sacred to her to allow them to be tainted by Baines's advances. Although later in the film, when she falls in love with him, it is the white key that she gives to him. Of all the colors implying things throughout the film, it was Campion's use of black that stood out to me....any one have any other thoughts? >

Posted by Lara Healy at 02:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Viewing part of the film "bell hooks: Cultural Criticism and Transformation" today in class was interesting to say the least. I was intrigued when I learned that Hooks was an English Professor in New York and that the film was going to discuss Cultural Studies and Representation. However, once the film began I was shocked at the content. Hook's conversation with the camera and the viewer was very intellectual and interesting but the film clips seemed to have been dropped in at random. Also the film clips were so extremely graphic in content, and I was more disturbed then educated about 'motivated representation', 'enlightened witness', and the other terms that Hooks defined. I feel Hooks could have discussed the topics of feminism without such graphic film clips that end up completely distracting the viewer from the conversation at hand. What I was left with after watching part of this film and from reading the articles in the course packet is that feminists only want to discuss how women are displayed as sexual objects. This was reaffirmed in the first film that we watched, 'The Piano', as Jane Campion portrays the main character Ada as a sexual object. The characters Bains and Stewart both want to have sex with Ada. The film does show Ada naked and does show Ada having sex; hence she is a sexual object. What part of feminist belief was being shown here? Mulvey states that a spectacle fantasy is where "women are objects of visual pleasure". 'The Piano' is a perfect example of this. In my opinion the gaze in this film was always male since Ada was exploited as a sexual object in many ways. Overall, I would have to say that I am confused right now on what feminism is. At this point in time I see feminism as women who want to be portrayed as something other than a sexual object but when making feminist film end up portraying women just how they do not want to be portrayed.

Posted by Stephanie Scott at 06:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I didn’t like the movie “The Piano” at all. I felt uncomfortable watching it and I thought the overall movie was extremely disturbing. I disliked the fact that George Baines offered Ada to give her the piano back in exchange for escalating sexual demands and instead of hating or despising him for it, she ends up loving him. It’s hard for me to understand why a woman would ever love a man who took advantage of you, black mailed you and who treated you poorly. It is said that the The Piano was a feminist film about a woman trying to maintain control over her own life in an age when women were considered the property of their husbands but I didn’t see it that at all. I saw a mute woman who would do anything for her piano and who surrendered to the men who abused her. Even though I didn’t like the movie, I still thought Jane Campion did an excellent job at directing the movie. What I liked best about the movie was the blue lighting because it made the movie more amusing and somehow different. I'm sure the movie has a lot of meaningful messages which I probably missed or didn't understand but whatever the case is, this a movie that I had a difficult time watching.

Posted by Pang Xiong at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I did not like this movie. I did not like this movie at ALL.
And I think it's only fair that those against the movie get some screen time.

I wanted to groan loudly when the film started and Ada introduced herself and explained she hadn't spoken since she was six. Right then I knew that the story would be a flight of fancy. Then there's the fact that the piano would most likely be ruined by the voyage and rain. I was also really bothered by the scene were the white folks were re-enacting the Bluebeard story and the natives were shown to not understand that it was just a play.

But onto the meat of why this movie made me mad.

Ada is sold to the frontiersman Stewart, and although it is the Victorian times she is not raped and tormented into a relationship. Which I thought gave Stewart some brownie points. But we still don't like him because he is a land grabber and treats the natives badly. We are made to like Baines because he has the exotic facial tattoos and understands those natives. But how are we suppose to remain liking him when he blackmails Ada into performing sexual favors? At least her husband had respect for her. The piano can be taken as a symbol for Ada's expression, or even her soul. So it is not only the piano that is held by Baines, but herself. Then she goes about and developes Stockholm Syndrome and "falls in love" with Baines. Then there is the delightful ending were she gives up her piano and learns how to speak again with a veil over her face.

What is meant by this ending? Ada has a passion for her piano, but as soon as she finds passion for a man she can give it up. It's as if the movie is trying to say that the only correct passion for a woman is a man. Grr. Other female characters call Ada's piano playing creepy and call her crazy. So the movie can also be read as Baines helped restore her. Love saves all. But once again, he did it by sexual intimidation and coerceon. I really hated that. It really made me wonder if the movie would've won ANY awards had the director been male.

I did love the costumes though.

Posted by Lisa Ritter at 06:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I wanted to comment on the movie "The Piano," because it has now become one of my favorite movies. I love this movie mostly because of its silent emotion. I would guess that by watching this movie without any sound, It would be very easy to feel the emotion conveyed throughout the film. Holly Hunter does not need to say any words, because her face conveys all of her convictions. Her eyes and her gaze bring the audience into a world where we are now reading faces and feelings, and not measuring love by words.
This film has the essential quality of covering up all that is wrong about the world with romantic aspects. Holly Hunter comes to terms with the order of society by falling in love. Her strange love for music is easily translated to her passion for wanting love from a man. She is silent, so all of her emotions are let out by her body language, and it is very apparent that she is an emotionally intense person.
I love the symbolic language of this film, especially with use of the piano. She loved her piano, but towards the end of the film, once she came to terms with her satisfaction of life; she no longer needed the piano to release her emotions, and all that she had left unsaid. The piano was once her voice, but at the end of the film, she knew she could release her voice without the use of the piano.
In some ways, this situation relates to everyone's life because of the fact that we all seem to have an outlet for our emotions. Some people cry their emotions, some people sing their emotions, and some people excercize or write out their emotions. The piano is representative of our needs as humans to have some kind of outlet until we have reached our ultimate fantasies. However, Holly Hunter tought us to let go and release what we are hiding behind as people, and embrace our feelings by means of romance and love. This story is great because it is such a life lesson to everyone saying, "Let out your emotions through love, and don't hold back!"

Posted by Jillian Schwantz at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I have always, for some reason, had an interest in seeing The Piano, all though I never got around to it. I'm glad I was able to watch this movie in class. I thought that this movie was very moving. It showed me how good my life really is and how I should be happy with what I have, because it really isn't that bad compared to how it could be. I really enjoyed this film. It's a beautiful story of how a women finds something, rather someone worth living, for besides her daughter. To me this film was trying to show me that even though your life isn't going how you want it, and it doesn't seem as though there is anything worth living for, don't give up because there is. This film reminds me of Rodney Atkins song, "If Your Going Through Hell".

Posted by Renee Wrobel at 09:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)