How to Identify Feminism in Movies
The world of motion pictures depicts women in many ways. A trip to the cinema can acquaint you with strong vibrant female characters who are successful, with ineffectual women broken down by a patriarchal society, as well as women at all points in between. Here is how to identify feminism in movies.
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Instructions
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View mainstream films whose title characters are women to see how they are presented. Note the actions of the title characters in such films as "Carrie," "Mildred Pierce," "Thelma and Louise," "Annie Hall" and "Johnny Belinda." Discover how these women are treated and how they respond to life's difficulties.
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Look for independent films that deal with feminist issues. Find information regarding these types of films and their history from B. Ruby Rich's book "Chick Flicks: Theories and Memories of the Feminist Film Movement" (see Resources below).
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Watch films made by women. Some prominent women filmmakers include Sherry Lansing, Catherine Hardwicke, Mary Harron and Sophia Coppola. Check a film database such as The Internet Movie Database for their works (see Resources below).
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Take a class in "Women's Studies and Film." Consult your local universities and community colleges for information about their course offerings. Request the formation of a class if they don't already offer one concentrating on feminism in film.
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Contact groups that promote and work to advance feminism in film, like the Women In Film & Television Vancouver (see Resources below). Such groups highlight the importance of women and feminism not only via the way they are portrayed in the medium, but also by helping women actually shoot their own films.
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Keep your eyes open for feminist film festivals, such as the San Francisco Women's Film Festival (see Resources below). Universities and women's groups often present these types of events, along with feminism and film lectures.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider hosting a women's film discussion group to interact and learn from others who may also be seeking to identify feminism in movies. Invite your friends to a video party in which you view films and then discuss their feminist elements.
