Women Directors

1
Women Directors

• Subtext of the Canon
• An ethical choice?
• Film as Communication (difficulties programming)

2
Identity Politics

• Spike Lee and Shes Gotta Have It
• Perspective vs. Essentialism http//m-w.com/dicti
  onary/essentialism

3
Are we in for a bunch of chick flicks?

• Who usually directs chick flicks?
• What are women directors like?

4
A few more questions

• Is it important for you to know the gender, race,
  or sexual orientation of an artist?
• Why or why not?
• Is there a feminine way of making a film?
• A masculine way?
• Who gets to be invisible? Who is just a great
  director?
• Who gets a label?

5
Programming Choices

• Seminal women directors/historical significance
• A variety of styles and subjects
• Bust through any myth that all women directors
  make a type of film

6
Consider the perspective

• Consider other mainstream films-- Are there
  subtle differences in the way the
  characters--especially women are depicted
  through
• Cinematography
• Storyline
• Mise en Scene
• Direction/Performance

7
Vertigo 1958 Alfred Hitchcock

• Confessional
• Critical Reputation Built Slowly
• See Mulvey PPT