Positive Images: Screening Women’s Films by Linda Artel and Susan Wengraf in Issues in Feminist Film Criticism edited by Patricia Erens Indiana University Press,1990

The Primary Aim of Artel and Wengraf “The primary aim of Positive Images was to evaluate media materials from a feminist perspective. We looked for materials that had at least one of the following characteristics:” [Positive Images was a catalogue]

Non-stereotyped Behavior Presents girls and women, boys and men with non-stereotyped behavior and attitudes: independent, intelligent women; adventurous, resourceful girls; men who are nurturing; boys who are not afraid to show their vulnerability Question: What about horror films? Texas Chainsaw Massacre? Aliens films? Ripley was a revolutionary figure—the first female action hero. What about men and boys breaking with tradition? Brokeback Mountain’s Gay Cowboys, but what is more taboo—the homosexuality or the emotionality? Gay men are often referred to as “sissies.” Are these men sissies?

Non-traditional Work & Leisure Presents both sexes in non-traditional work or leisure activities: men doing housework, women flying planes, etc. Question: First, what are non-traditional activities? What roles are women still excluded from? President (TV show, First Lady? Gina Davis?), upper management (CEO, Vice President, etc.) 6%. What else? Question: What about non-traditional men’s roles? Homework and child-rearing still falls primarily to women. Can you think of a film that depicts a man in that role? Question: Is it possible that merely reversing roles actually reinforces stereotypes? Should women act like men to get accepted in the workplace? Or should difference be respected?

Questions Role Division Questions Values/Behavior of Traditional Male/Female Role Division Example: North Country

Women’s Achievements Shows women’s achievements and contributions throughout history. Question: Which are more useful in your opinion—films that show women as historical heroines, or films that show women achievers as nonetheless flawed and “human” (e.g., Elizabeth, The Hours)?

Non-sexist Treatment of Women’s Problems Deals with a specific women’s problem, such as pregnancy, abortion or rape, in a non-sexist way HBO Special “If These Walls Could Talk”: Sharon Stone and Ellen Degeneres (sp?) are lesbian partners who decide to have children via artificial insemination; Vanessa Redgrave plays an elderly lesbian woman who has lost her partner and is having everything they co-owned taken from her because her partner was legally considered to be single. Question: Have we seen problems specific to women of color depicted in film? Crash (the movie)? In 2006 we had 2 breakthrough films—Crash depicting problems of race, class, and gender; Brokeback Mountain, depicting problems for gay men.

Consciousness-raising Contains images of sexist attitudes, behavior, and institutions that can be used for consciousness raising. North Country

Problematic Films according to Artel and Wengraf “A number of films deal with feminist issues but are sexist in the way they treat the subject matter.”

Examples They Use: Minimizing women in problem-solving a woman’s issue Behavior limiting credibility (Mary Tyler Moore being coy) Condescending narrative Rescued by man Class-based (only relevant for upper-middle class women) Women’s subjects but lack feminist perspective. Strong protagonist, weak secondary characters (e.g., adventurous vs. “good little girls”).

Problem Areas They See: Only a handful of films w/ positive images at preschool or primary grade levels. Biographies of women: need more Women’s roles in history: specific contributions Women in non-traditional jobs w/ in-depth focus (usually surface) Third World Women Male liberation from masculine roles Changing definition of “family”

Useful or Problematic? Did you find this process of finding “positive images” useful or problematic?

How is it useful? How is it problematic? “There’s More to a Positive Image Than Meets the Eye” by Diane Waldman (same book)

Waldman: Acknowledges usefulness of seeking out films that Artel and Wengraf recommend, but . . . Has 2 main criticisms: 1) criteria involved in determining what is to be considered a “positive image” and 2) limits of the notion of “positive image”

Defining “Positive Characteristics” Is it possible to empirically define “positive characteristics” for women and men? Is western, white, upper-middle class able-bodied culture the proper standard? (counterpoint: A Day in the Life of Bonnie Consolo (woman born w/ no arms) Are we reinforcing dominant bourgeois histories (“great men” replaced with “great women”)? Assumes that most of what we see are “negative images” and that the corrective is “positive images.”

Depicting “Reality” Do these “positive characteristics” depict “things as they really are, or as we think they should be?” Example: The following catalog excerpt does not see this film as “positive.” Yet, it depicts a “reality” of this culture and time. Is it useful/beneficial? “In a cattle raising community in “In a cattle raising community in Northern Kenya, the women perform the traditional tasks of child-rearing and food preparation while the men manage the herds. Although the women are also responsible for building the cowhide covered dwellings, this too is viewed as ‘women’s work.’” If a filmmaker depicts “reality,” and it is negative, is the negative image considered a fault of the filmmaking? Should we not note differences between depicting things as they are and as we think they should be (example: depicting woman as president)? Waldman believes we should think just as carefully/critically about “positive images” as we do about overtly sexist images. What if a woman were to be depicted in a non-traditional role playing it in a negative way? Would it still be considered “positive”? Or, if negative, could it be useful to watch and study it? (example: Monster, Charleze Theron) - Do these “positive characteristics” depict “things as they really are, or as we think they should be?” Is it useful to note the difference here? (example: depicting woman as president) Should we acknowledge when – Should we note that such images as a woman president are not the norm, and think critically about them as we do about overtly sexist images? - Is it possible to empirically define “positive characteristics” for women and men? Is western, white, upper-middle class able-bodied culture the proper standard? - (counterpoint: women of Northern Kenya) - (counterpoint: A Day in the Life of Bonnie Consolo (woman born w/ no arms) “In a cattle raising community in Northern Kenya, the women perform the traditional tasks of child-rearing and food preparation while the men manage theherds. Although the women are also responsible for building the cowhide covered dwellings, this too is viewed as “women’s work.” So, this film is not considered to be “positive.” Yet, it depicts the reality of this culture in this time. Is this not useful? - Are we really reinforcing the dominant bourgeois histories of “great men” with “great women”? Golda Meyer (sp?) I always wanted to see her depicted on screen—and then when I did see her, I realized that she is seen in the same role as male military heroes, and I had trouble with that.

Constructing Meaning The “Positive Images” catalogue Ignores the fact that “meaning is to be located in the interaction between reader and image and not in the images themselves.” Notion of a “positive image” assumes identification of the spectator with the character depicted (hero/heroine) “the mechanism of identification goes unchallenged” (how we identify with characters, what constitutes a traditional role or a positive role, what is sexist or not, etc.) - Do these “positive characteristics” depict “things as they really are, or as we think they should be?” Is it useful to note the difference here? (example: depicting woman as president) Should we acknowledge when – Should we note that such images as a woman president are not the norm, and think critically about them as we do about overtly sexist images? - Is it possible to empirically define “positive characteristics” for women and men? Is western, white, upper-middle class able-bodied culture the proper standard? - (counterpoint: women of Northern Kenya) - (counterpoint: A Day in the Life of Bonnie Consolo (woman born w/ no arms) “In a cattle raising community in Northern Kenya, the women perform the traditional tasks of child-rearing and food preparation while the men manage theherds. Although the women are also responsible for building the cowhide covered dwellings, this too is viewed as “women’s work.” So, this film is not considered to be “positive.” Yet, it depicts the reality of this culture in this time. Is this not useful? - Are we really reinforcing the dominant bourgeois histories of “great men” with “great women”? Golda Meyer (sp?) I always wanted to see her depicted on screen—and then when I did see her, I realized that she is seen in the same role as male military heroes, and I had trouble with that.

Creating a Pedagogical Model Does not address the issue of how to deal with the reality of sexism Assumes that most of what we see are “negative images” and that the corrective is “positive images.” - Do these “positive characteristics” depict “things as they really are, or as we think they should be?” Is it useful to note the difference here? (example: depicting woman as president) Should we acknowledge when – Should we note that such images as a woman president are not the norm, and think critically about them as we do about overtly sexist images? - Is it possible to empirically define “positive characteristics” for women and men? Is western, white, upper-middle class able-bodied culture the proper standard? - (counterpoint: women of Northern Kenya) - (counterpoint: A Day in the Life of Bonnie Consolo (woman born w/ no arms) “In a cattle raising community in Northern Kenya, the women perform the traditional tasks of child-rearing and food preparation while the men manage theherds. Although the women are also responsible for building the cowhide covered dwellings, this too is viewed as “women’s work.” So, this film is not considered to be “positive.” Yet, it depicts the reality of this culture in this time. Is this not useful? - Are we really reinforcing the dominant bourgeois histories of “great men” with “great women”? Golda Meyer (sp?) I always wanted to see her depicted on screen—and then when I did see her, I realized that she is seen in the same role as male military heroes, and I had trouble with that.

Waldman suggests: “. . . as teachers, we should stress analysis, critical distance, and discussion of any material we use rather than rely upon the identification implied by the ‘positive image’ concept.”

What is a “positive image”? Depends on the viewer (perhaps Artel and Wengraf could have recognized subjectivity in their selections, saying these were their selections, their identifications with characters, etc.) Easier to identify “negative images,” because we know when we see them.

END – Questions? Response Your assignment is to read “Positive Images: Screening Women’s Films” by Linda Artel and Susan. In your response essay you will select films of your choice (preferably ones we have not discussed in class or in the article) and write about ways in which the women's roles are positive or negative. Your writing should relate the films to the reading you have done, though you will be offering your own opinions (which means you can also formulate your own ideas of what constitutes "positive" and "negative" imagery and may or may not agree with the article).

Assignment Consider the criteria Artel and Wengraf use as they 1) define “positive images” and 2) criticize films that claim to have positive images but are really sexist. Discuss at least two films—one that could qualify in each category. Explain why you have made your choices. Cite specific examples and explain their significance. Reflect on your reading and process. What do you find useful (if anything) about this process of categorizing and recognizing “positive images”? What do you find problematic (if anything)? Please share your findings with us during this presentation.