This week I will be discussing the Weinstein Rupture and the ensuing #Metoo social media campaign as an introduction to contemporary feminism in the Comms A2 Class. We will discuss the trailer for Bladerunner 2049 in this context.Woody Allen also weighed in on this What do we each think about this?
We will also look at Hegenomy Theory to think about what a feminist take on Cultural Hegemony might be? How do our agreements around power in society allow people like Weinstein to get away with all sorts of things?
Question: Having read through the links above, what do you think about this statement from David Gauntlett's Media, Gender and Identity
"Men and Women are seen working side by side as equals. in the hospitals, schools and police stations of television land. Movie producers are wary of having women as screaming victims. and have realised that audiences will only laugh at images of the pretty housewife, and have reacted by showing women how to be sexy at work instead" (Gauntlett 2002 p57)
Has the battle for equality in gender representation been won ?
Do women want to be shown how to be sexy at work?
In CCS we are going to the Tate and I am looking forward to seeing Soul of a Nation Art in the age of Black Power. I was at the Tate today and watched the 2012 three screen film work The Unfinished Conversation by John Akomfrah. This work completely engaged me as Stuart Hall's personal archive was juxtaposed with layered visions of British colonial history and narrated through the words of writers such as Virginia Wolf and Mervyn Peake I was mesmerised.
I also listened to the sound of Susan Hillers voice in her installation Monument at the Tate Tanks I had never given the work the time to sit down and listen until today. Her soothing accent chatted so gently about time and memory and ways to read the words on the wall of lives lost saving others, but at times it became more pressing urgent and agitated. Again a must see work.
How successful do you think the Tate has been with this attempt at reparation /decolonising the institution? What do you notice about the hierarchies of staff positions as you navigate the gallery? How is this similar to The Cass?