Beloved: A Jonathan Demme Picture Presentation by William D. Tucker Edited by: Dr. Picart and Donna Gallagher

Aims To contextualize Demme’s film of Beloved within the categories of race, class, sex, and gender. To contextualize Demme’s film of Beloved within the categories of race, class, sex, and gender. To address elements of dance used within the movie. To address elements of dance used within the movie. To address the idea of tortured/disgusting bodies within the movie. To address the idea of tortured/disgusting bodies within the movie.

Critical/Audience Response Box office flop Box office flop Critical response mixed to positive Critical response mixed to positive Reasons for financial failure Reasons for financial failure “Independent” production “Independent” production Oprah as media personality/icon Oprah as media personality/icon

Portrayals of Torture/Disgusting Bodies Body as a site of horror Body as a site of horror Atrocities of slavery Atrocities of slavery Anti-slavery horror movie Anti-slavery horror movie Use of horror movie techniques Use of horror movie techniques Bodily fluids Bodily fluids Death before subjugation Death before subjugation Children in jeopardy Children in jeopardy

Dance as Release/Transcendence Expression of affection Expression of affection Expression of religious/spiritual intensity Expression of religious/spiritual intensity Bonding activity Bonding activity

Spirituality/Degradation and Ties to Bodies Beloved as ghostly puppeteer Beloved as ghostly puppeteer Dancing bodies/religious experience Dancing bodies/religious experience Slave’s body/acceptable treatment Slave’s body/acceptable treatment Necessary cruelty Necessary cruelty

Race/Class/Gender—Acceptable Bodies Female bodies/black bodies vs. white bodies/male bodies Female bodies/black bodies vs. white bodies/male bodies Torture/humiliation—levels of acceptability Torture/humiliation—levels of acceptability Demme’s fascination with disgusting bodies as artwork Demme’s fascination with disgusting bodies as artwork Class/Slavery—Your Body is Not Your Own Class/Slavery—Your Body is Not Your Own

Discussion Was Demme’s approach in this film exploitative? Was Demme’s approach in this film exploitative? Is it more acceptable to portray black bodies and female bodies in states of degradation than it is to portray white bodies and male bodies? Is it more acceptable to portray black bodies and female bodies in states of degradation than it is to portray white bodies and male bodies?

Conclusion Horror film about slavery. Horror film about slavery. Unconventional structure. Unconventional structure. Beware the dangers of marketing a three hour movie that is not an epic action film! Beware the dangers of marketing a three hour movie that is not an epic action film!

Bibliography O’Sullivan, C. “Beloved” Sight and Sound v. 9 no. 3 (March 1999) p O’Sullivan, C. “Beloved” Sight and Sound v. 9 no. 3 (March 1999) p Wilmington, M. “Beloved” Film Comment v. 34 no. 6 (November/December 1998) p Wilmington, M. “Beloved” Film Comment v. 34 no. 6 (November/December 1998) p