Gender and film explored 

Sometimes it is difficult to talk about, express and explore deeply held feeling and thoughts, particularly when they relate to who you are as a person and even more so when they sit outside the ‘norms’ of society. Having a focal point outside of yourself can help in generating discussion and, for many in society art can be used as a forum to do this. One of the most accessible forms of art is film. As a university student living with my friends, I am influenced by them on a daily basis. All of them study film or animation and we frequently have discussions about the correlation between their passion with film and mine, politics and philosophy. I think all mediums of art are inherently political and their knowledge of film has allowed me to explore this deeper than I ever would have than if I wasn’t surrounded by people watching and creating films. As a result, I have helped with and featured in some of the film projects my friends have made. Recently I was part of a film that explores themes of queerness, femininity and sin; it looks at society’s fear of women’s erotic power, and the way we are taught shame and inferiority through a religious lens. The photo posted to the left is s still from this film. Furthermore, I assisted with a narrative film about feminine rage. This film is about a man Joshua, poisoned by his lust and meeting his demise at the hands of mona an otherworldly woman. The man looks creepily through the crack of a toilet cubical at a woman and mona acts as a vigilante torturing him consequently for his behaviour towards women. The third film I helped with this term, explored the hidden effects that taking the contraceptive pill, and the nonchalance medical practice often has to women’s pain and suffering surrounding periods and birth control. The end scene struck me the most, after a long exploration of the effects of birth control on a women’s health, mentally and physically, the doctor dismisses her pain telling her to wait it out. Upon reflection, all these films are rooted in the themes of femininity and gender and the dismissal of women’s experience. I think it’s telling that so many of these projects showcase this, suggesting frustration within communities. I believe this reflects how many women and LGBTQIA+ people feel in society. When conveyed through words alone, it seems difficult and harder to communicate than showing these ideas through film and other artistic mediums. This allows us to express ourselves freely by providing a creative platform. Being a part of these films has undoubtedly influenced my choice to do my research on all things feminist and queer in film.