Saturday, July 04, 2009
Go to WIF/GM site
Site Sections:
 Welcome: Register
(Login)

 Search  
 
Home » Articles » Vault
Welcome to the Vault. This is a repository for archiving past articles.
A MODEST PROPOSAL By: Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem, feminist activist, organizer, writer and lecturer, comments on the term "chick flicks," noting that "whoever is in power takes over the noun—and the norm—while the less powerful get an adjective. Thus, we read about 'African American doctors' but not 'European American doctors,' 'Hispanic leaders' but not 'Anglo leaders,' 'gay soldiers' but not 'heterosexual soldiers,' and so on. That’s also why you’re left with only half a guide. As usual, bias punishes everyone."

This commentary first appeared in July 2007 on The Women's Media Center website. It is used here by permission.More >
FROM BOYS WITH TOYS TO BABES WITH BULLETS By: Annette Insdorf
A version of this article first appeared in a Mediascope project, "More Than A Movie: Ethics in Entertainment" (Copyright 2000 by Westview Press, A Member of the Perseus Books Group.

Editor's note: Annette wrote this excellent, thoughtful, long-ranging article in 2000. While the references in it are to films of the 80's and 90's, just substitute film titles from the last 7 years and the points remain relevant and provocative. Kill Bill and Tomb Raider come to mind and the Horror/Slasher genre is growing and alarming, mostly promoting a sexual component to violence. And the horror movie has become the genre-of-choice for young aspiring first-timers looking to make a splash (and raise financing the first time). Over the past seven years there may have been a couple more SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE and AS GOOD AS IT GETS or VOLVERsss, but the vinyl clad woman-with-gun, whether she's meant as a cartoon or not, is still alarmingly interesting and marketable.
More >
GOD ALMIGHTY, WHY DID YOU LET THEM MAKE EVAN ALMIGHTY? By: Grace McKeaney
There are some stories better left undone or done another way. There are movies that benefit richly from making the story of people’s humanity the real story told. Deepen relationships, infuse women's characters with humour and understanding (things that matter to women can be funny, too) and stop thinking laughs only come in extra-large.
More >
IF WOMEN RAN HOLLYWOOD...2007 By: Martha Lauzen Ph.D.
Approximately 15 years ago, Entertainment Weekly took stock of women's status in Hollywood when it published a humorous yet pointed article articulating how the film and television industries might change if women took over. Entitled "If Women Ran Hollywood," the article included a list of gender-bending realities including...
More >
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAMERA By: Emma Hedditch
This article originally appeared on British Film Institute's website Screenonline. Copyright BFI, used by permission.

Emma Hedditch talks about the involvement of women creatives and technicians in the UK film industry over time. This is an informative parallel to Cari Beauchamp's article, One Brief Glorious Moment, about Hollywood. Together the two articles present some interesting little-known (or little cited) facts about women's participation in growing the technology and the industry world-wide. Any one want to add to this from another country's pov? Anyone care to muse on why our information doesn't stick?
More >
PULLING FOCUS: FRENCH FESTIVAL OF IRISH WOMEN'S FILMS By: Rynagh O'Grady
Following the success of the Irish chapter's festival of French Women's Films in October 2006 in Dublin, the reciprocal festival in Paris of Irish women's work took place September 29th, 2007.
More >
TALK OF THE TOWN By: Various Contributors
This article originally appeared in the DGA Quarterly, Fall 2006 © Copyright DGA Q, used by permission.

The debate over why the industry employs such a shockingly low percentage of female directors has been going on for years. But the numbers don't change. The Quarterly decided to bring together some top female directors to air out the issues and address future possibilities...
More >
 
Copyright© 2007 - Women In Film   Terms Of Use  Privacy Statement